(Cross posted to Azores, Madeira, and Island Routes lists) Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) has begun their summer sale that will run for one month, through August 31st at 11:59 pm CDT (or maybe PDT - I'm not sure which time zone they are using now).
If you have never taken a DNA test before and are overwhelmed, take the Family Finder (FF) test. Test someone from the older generation (if your parents are alive, test them first. If they are not alive, test one of their siblings. Same for grandparents. If they are not alive, test their siblings. If no one is alive, then you are the best candidate). It's also good to test siblings and cousins. It "stacks the deck" in your favor and we start to form a picture of a freguesia. It starts to cluster and when it starts to cluster, more matches are made and the real fun begins! If you have a specific problem and are wondering if a particular DNA test can help you solve that problem, then Y-DNA or mtDNA may be an answer. Email one of the admins, include a graphic of your tree with the problem ancestor, and we'll make a recommendation for you. I've copied the graphic below from Roberta Estes' blog, "DNA Explained." Some abbreviations used: Y## - Y-DNA with the number of markers tested. Right now, either Y-37 or Y67 is fine. If Y111 is in your budget, go right ahead. You can always start with less markers and upgrade at a future sale. FF - Family Finder FMS - Full Mitochondrial Sequence test. Tests all 16,000 base pairs of the mtDNA molecule MT - Mitochondrial - one of their lower level mtDNA tests where only 800-1500 base pairs were tested (if you are a previous customer, your page may say "mtDNA" or "mtDNA Plus" as your previous mtDNA test). Big Y500 - Includes deep SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) testing and 500 markers. It's more anthropology oriented at this time. The theory is that by finding unique markers (SNP)s on the tree of mankind (haplotree) and utilizing 500 markers, we may be able to bridge gaps where the paper trail doesn't reach. If you are interested in this test (it's expensive), ask one of the admins. HOW TO ORDER: If you are an existing customer, log into your DNA page and click the words "Add Ons and Upgrades" towards the upper right corner: If you are a new customer or are ordering for a relative who has never, ever DNA tested with FTDNA before (it's a giant foam Q-tip - much easier than saliva), order through one of the group projects here: Azores: https://goo.gl/vTndP3 Madeira: https://goo.gl/bdPp9a Cape Verde: https://goo.gl/xnatZn If you have more than one ancestry, pick a project to order through and let one of the admins know and we'll send you the instructions on how to join the other project(s). Sincerely, Cheri Mello (gfscherim at gmail.com), Rick Pimentel (richard.francis.pimentel at gmail.com), Luis Beal (genealogialb at gmail.com), Family Tree DNA Admins, volunteers (with Nancy Jean Baptiste on vacation) *Prices from DNA Explained blog, by Roberta Estes:* *The Summer Sale* Everything is on sale – literally everything. New purchases and upgrades too. <https://dnaexplained.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/summer-sale-prices.png> Product bundles, already discounted, are now discounted even further during the sale. <https://dnaexplained.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/summer-sale-bundle-prices.png> The sale ends on August 31st. Now is a great time to buy those kits for your relatives and take them along to family reunions. Cheri Mello Listowner, Azores-Gen Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/azores.
