Flanders-Flemish DNA Project
The three main companies that specialize in genetic genealogy are Family Tree DNA, Relative Genetics and DNA Heritage. The products offered by these three companies vary a little but in essence, Family Tree DNA provides the widest choice of tests. Other companies that specialize in DNA testing for genealogy include Oxford Ancestry (founded by Dr Bryan Sykes, author of The Seven Daughters of Eve), and African Ancestry (specialized in testing African-Americans).
There is an entire chapter on DNA Test Checklist and how to select a DNA testing Company in DNA and Family History: How genetic testing can advance your genealogical research, by Chris Pomery. C. Fitzpatrick and A. Yeiser DNA and Genealogy provides another source of information on the difference in services offered by various companies. The basic choice between DNA tests were discussed in the previous section: only males can take the Y-DNA test, which traces their father’s fathers’ paternal line. Both males and females can take the mtDNA test, which traces their mother’s, mother’s maternal line. For males only there is also a combination test which analyzes Y-NDA and mtDNA.
After you order a test kit and receive it in the mail, you take the test following the instructions included in the kit. The typical DNA specimen collection test kit comes in a small envelope and usually consists of two swabs that look like toothbrushes. No needles or blood samples are used.
A DNA test takes less than a minute and requires nothing more than scraping your inner cheek for 30 seconds to gather cells for DNA testing. It is simple and totally painless. Upon completion of the test you mail the kit back to the testing company, who a couple of weeks later will mail you the results.
Your DNA results can then be uploaded to one or more public databases. This can be done while maintaining absolute privacy because uploads are done by kit number. Surname projects allow comparisons with people with the same (or similar) surname. Geographic projects allow comparisons with people from the same geographic origin e.g. Flanders-Flemish DNA project.
Taking a DNA Test
Taking a DNA test is straightforward. There are about a dozen companies that offer commercial DNA testing services. You can order a testing kit from any of them either on-line, by phone or via mail.
The Family Tree DNA test kit consists of two cheek scrapers and two collection tubes---designed for a single persons use. Each tube contains a fluid designed to arrest bacteria growth, so you can scrape your cheek and return your kit in any type of weather (hot or cold). The freshness of your sample will remain intact for months.
Flanders-Flemish DNA project has no business relationship with any of the companies that offer genetic services.
