The following was written by Ancestry.com staff:
Provo, Utah, January 27, 2009 — Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online resource for family history, has reduced the prices of its genetic
genealogy DNA tests, allowing consumers more affordable access to the family history information provided by these tests.
Effectively immediately, the 33-marker paternal lineage test is now only $79 (down from $149). The paternal lineage test analyzes DNA in the Y chromosome, which is passed virtually unchanged from father to son. Advanced paternal lineage tests, maternal lineage tests (which looks at mitochondrial DNA passed from a mother to her children), and combination paternal and maternal lineage testing options are also part of the product suite.
With similar DNA tests typically costing more than $150, the new $79 price offers individuals the best available value for genetic genealogy DNA testing. Test options priced in the $79 range usually test fewer markers and are less genealogically useful.
“Ancestry.com has built a reputation synonymous with family history, and we think that DNA testing is a great complement to membership in our core service,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com. “Our very clear goal is to build the world’s largest database of genetic genealogy results. Substantially reducing the price of our 33-marker paternal lineage test will allow more people than ever before to unlock the mystery of their ancient origins and to find living relatives from around the world.”
Ancestry.com has one of the fastest-growing genetic genealogy databases in the world — helping more and more of its members to extend the branches of their family trees, discover living relatives they never knew existed and find new leads where traditional paper trails dead end. “The acquisition of more DNA participants will benefit family historians, genetic genealogists and researchers seeking colorful facts about their family histories,” Sullivan added. In addition, users who were tested with other genetic genealogy testing services can enter their test results and compare with others in the Ancestry.com DNA database, the only online DNA database that offers this functionality.
As part of their test results, participants receive:
- Ancient Haplogroup determination with information about that group and a map of their migrations
- Online results that can help to potentially identify genetic cousins
- Access to the rapidly expanding, searchable Ancestry.com DNA database
With the launch of the expanded DNA testing options, Ancestry.com has also introduced tools that allow users to add their DNA results to their online family trees. DNA results are inferred to all relevant members in the family tree, multiplying users’ chances to find and make connections with genetic cousins who might not otherwise see their results. Since July 2006, more than 8.3 million family trees have been created online at Ancestry.com.
About Genetic Genealogy:
Genetic genealogy uses DNA testing to determine the genetic relationship between individuals. The two most common types of genetic genealogy tests are Y chromosome DNA (paternal line) and mitochondrial DNA (maternal line). Genetic genealogy provides a means to validate or supplement historical records with genetic data. There are many benefits including the ability to confirm or refute existing or suspected family connections. It may also help to determine the ancestral continent of origin or homeland and find living relatives. Genetic genealogy DNA tests do not provide conclusions regarding propensity toward disease or disclose information about inherited traits.About Ancestry and The Generations Network
The Generations Network, Inc., through its flagship Ancestry.com property, is the world’s leading resource for online family history. Ancestry.com has local websites in nine countries and has digitized and put online over 7 billion names and 27,000 historical records collections over the past ten years. Since July 2006, Ancestry.com users have created more than 8.3 million family trees containing 810 million profiles and 15 million photographs and stories. The Generations Network also includes myfamily.com, Genealogy.com, Rootsweb.ancestry.com, MyCanvas.com, dna.ancestry.com, Family Tree Maker and Ancestry Magazine. More than 7.7 million unique visitors spent over 4.5 million hours on a TGN website in November 2008 (comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide).
Courtesy of Anatasia Tyler