Public DNA data bases

The increase in popularity of DNA testing has promoted the establishment of online public databases that allow comparison with thousands of records uploaded to these databases. These databases, which are sponsored by major DNA testing companies, are accessible, mostly for free to everyone. The most popular databases are:

1.Y-SEARCH.org: This database, provided by Family Tree DNA, accepts Y-STR results from all other testing laboratories for comparison with its database. To access this database, a user must create a free account by submitting his Y-STR results and providing information on his most distant known ancestor along the male line. The user can select the number of markers and mismatches to search.

2.Y-BASE.org: This database, sponsored by DNA Heritage, provides a way of comparing haplotypes. There is a search engine based on both haplotype and surname that provides the contact information of contributors. The site also provides a “haplomatic” for predicting the haplogroups from a STR profile, along with statistics on the allele values and haplogroups composition of the database.

3.MITOSEARCH.org: This database, provided by Family Tree DNA, provides for matching of mtDNA results. Use of the database requires the creation of a free account through the submission of mtDNA results. Searches can be performed on the basis of mtDNA SNP results or on haplogroups.

4.SMGF.org: This database, sponsored by the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, correlates genetic and genealogical information. The site provides a drop-down menu where you can enter a haplotype for easy comparison with the database. Closely related haplotypes are returned with a table indicating the status of the match for each marker, but without giving the actual value of any of the markers. The table is linked to the pedigrees of each matching haplotype and to an estimate of the most recent common ancestor for each match. To add a haplotype to the SMGF database you have to request a free test kit and return the sample to the Sorenson laboratory. No personal results are returned. All results are added to the publicly accessible database but personal information on haplotype composition and vital statistics are not provided with the match information. Sorenson actively recruits individuals with extensive genealogies, family surname groups, and members of specific populations.

In addition to the public databases provided above, there are some public databases that serve more special interests. There is the YHRD.org, a database, created by the Forensic Y-User Group, called the Y Chromosome Haplotype Reference Database, a successor to the www.ystr.org database. The website provides haplotype frequency estimates for both forensic and genealogical use, and also for wider studies of population composition. The site only accepts submissions from laboratories that pass a quality control. A list of contributing laboratories with contact information is provided on the site.

There is also CSTL.NIST.GOV. Created by John M. Butler and Dennis L. Reeder of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) this database contains a repository of information related to the use of STRs in human identity testing. The site covers many more markers than those in the core and extended STR sets. It has an excellent library of information on STRs more suited to the experienced researcher, including the information on the properties of the markers and the population data.