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It’s Women’s History Month…

The Ides of March…

Dr. Seuss’ Birthday…

Alexander Graham Bell’s Birthday…

Albert Einstein’s Birthday and let’s not forget…..

….it’s National Noodle Month !!…

And on top of all that,  we have St. Patrick’s Day..

So, while 50% of us can celebrate Woman’s History Month, probably none of us are too keen on the Ides of March..

And although my favorite author, my favorite genius and my favorite inventor  (I love my cell phone, Mr. Bell, thank you!)  all have birthdays, and while we could celebrate each of them…that much birthday cake is not good for anyone…

However, anyone can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day..it’s the one day a year that everyone is a wee bit Irish..or wishes they were

So with that said, GeneTree wants to know, just how Irish are you?

We’ve decided to have a little trivia contest.

The person who gives the most correct give the answers in the blog comment section on Tuesday, March 16, will win a special Irish gift from GeneTree!

So, use your “Noodle” and answer these 17 trivia questions:

1. What does “Erin go bragh” mean? (For extra credit: What language is it?)

2. In the song “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” what can you hear in the lilt of Irish laughter?

3. Before baking Irish soda bread, why is a cross traditionally slashed in the top of the loaf?

4. What type of meat goes into a traditional Irish stew?

5. What are the colors of the Irish flag and what do they represent?

6. What is a Claddagh?

7. During which years did the Irish Potato Famine take place?

8. Who was the first High King of Ireland?

9. The Titanic was built at which Irish shipyard?

10. Which actress played the part of Mary Kate Danaher in “The Quiet Man”?

11. In which town in Co. Roscommon is the Irish Famine Museum?

12. What does the circle in the centre of the celtic cross represent?

13. By legend, one who kisses the Blarney Stone receives what?

14. In Irish surnames, what does “Mac” mean?

15. What about O’?

16. Waterford, Ireland is popularly known for making what?

17. What is the “profession” of the leprechaun?

The Luck ‘O the Irish be with ye..now, let us know the answers. In case of a tie, the winner will be picked by random drawing..

…and if you’re just not sure how Irish you are…why not purchase a DNA kit and find out where your ancestors came from?

Knowing their deep origins probably wouldn’t have changed how they felt about each other, although they would have learned more about each other. The technology wasn’t available to them, but it is to us. And, because we carry the DNA of our ancestors, we can learn more about them after they are gone.

 People who are closely related to us genealogically can quite different from us genetically. Most people find that their own mtDNA haplogroup is different from their father’s and their grandfather’s. On the flip side, you might find out that your genetics are more alike than you thought. We know of one couple who discovered that their mtDNA was identical, meaning they probably share a maternal ancestor about 2000 years ago.

Our friend Anna started a new pedigree chart mapping out the mtDNA haplogroups of her family to see how genetically different some of her closest ancestors are. Take a look below to see how she did this. When asked why she made a new pedigree chart, Anna responded “I did this to show my parents the larger picture of how DNA works. It is fun to see where deep ancestry takes each of us in our whole pedigree chart rather than just the individual lines. I have also tested all 3 of my brothers-in-law and their mtDNA has all been from haplogroup H. I joke with my sisters that they have all been fishing in the same genetic pond.”

“So, what’s your haplogroup?” might not be the next catchy pickup line, but it can make for an interesting conversation. Whether you are testing yourself and your own sweetheart, or exploring the relationship of another couple in your family tree, you’re discovering a piece of history that hasn’t yet been written down.

Although you want to have as many genetic lines as possible to add to your family tree, you don’t need to test all your relatives! If you have had an mtDNA test, you already know your mother’s DNA. And if you are a male with Y results (or if you have a brother with Y results) you already know your father’s line.

But you can’t be tested for your father’s mtDNA or your maternal grandfather’s Y or mtDNA. If they are alive, have them take a DNA test. If they are no longer with us, it’s usually possible to find a relative who can take the test instead. (We can help you with that if you need it.)

When you are tracing the family of one ancestor, it is also a good idea to know the DNA of their spouse. Chances are you can learn more about grandpa through exploring grandma’s records and connections.

Each DNA test you add to your genetic family tree gives you a better picture of your family. And it preserves your family’s DNA, genealogy, and legacy of love for generations to come.

 (images from http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/vintageresources.html unless otherwise attributed)

And don’t forget our February special! $30 off a kit, $49.95 off a 5-hour consultation, or both (see http://blog.genetree.com/2010/02/all-because-2-people-fell-in-love-and-a-wonderful-money-saving-offer/ for the details)

Doing genealogy is relatively  new to me and because most of my ancestors are from Ireland, it is, at times, challenging.  But one thing sticks in my heart (another Valentine reference?) is how, back to whenever, we are all here because of 2 people

{images from http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/vintageresources.html)

Now, while looking for our histories, there are times when a wonderful discovery is made..a photo or a story, a document or  even a tall-tale.

And to have a place to save them is wonderful (read: GeneTree’s Family Tree, where you can upload photos, documents and write your own story..)

However, there are also times we do not find the obvious links..no photos, missing documents, no stories to share with the up and coming generations.

Those two people that fell in love left us a far more telling document of their lives and times and those of their parents, and their grandparents, and back through the pages of time.

That is, of course, their DNA.  And because it is within all of us, it’s a gift we can now easily discover and leave for future generations.

Share Your DNA

While scrapbooking, blogging, Facebooking and Tweeting  are the daily journals of our lives, DNA give us much, much more.

We can trace the very foundation of our family; where we started, how we migrated and who we are related to in real time.

And, from now until the end of February, GeneTree is offering  two very very special Valentine’s promotions – and what a significant Valentine’s Day present this would be!

Offer 1:

$30.oo off of the the regular price of a Y46 DNA kit (male) or the mtDNA kit (male or female) or the Combo kit (males only – both YDNA and mtDNA tests)

Offer 2:

When you purchase our  Full Service Consultation package, you’ll receive a 5-hour consultation consisting of in-depth research and a full written report with a DNA expert, using YOUR results,  for the prices of 4 hours !  A savings of $49.95

Offer 3: Choose BOTH!  With a combined savings of $79.95

You will need to call in and ask for the Blog Special.  Our Customer Service team will process this over the phone.  Just call toll-free 866-740-6362

This is a wonderful month to give those you love the keys to unlock their own stories..

And to one day hear, “this is what I learned about US..all because two people fell in love”

Hello Blog Readers !

You know, I’ve inherited a lot of things from my parents: the stamp collection from my Father. The Better Homes & Gardens cookbooks from my Mother..

And of course, their DNA.

Because DNA is passed down through the generations almost unchanged, we all inherit our DNA from our ancestors, going back many, many generations.

And now, GeneTree has a feature to let your family inherit your DNA readings from your profile!

Just add family members to your pedigree along with their email addresses in the area provided on the family tree. Then, when they sign-up for their free GeneTree account, they will be able to transfer or inherit your DNA readings into their account!

If they have families, they can have their spouses DNA tested and the branches of your tree become even stronger and more telling than ever before.

It’s much like the lattice on your garden vines – the more support it gets, the stronger and more lasting it becomes.

This is a wonderful opportunity to get all your family interested in not only learning about their history and genetic make-up, but to feel as though they’re writing the next chapter!

Just have them sign-up with GeneTree and the available DNA to inherit is just a click away.

Try it today – you’ll be happy you did.

www.genetree.com

The answer to Greg’s question is Y DNA and mtDNA trace different specific family lines. Greg’s Y DNA traces his direct paternal line – his father, his father’s father, and so on, because fathers pass Y chromosomes directly to their sons. His mtDNA traces his maternal lineage – his mother, her mother, her mother, and so on, because mothers pass mtDNA to their children.

Next, Greg logged into his GeneTree account to look at his Y markers and his consultant explained that the DYS numbers are the locations on the Y chromosome that were tested. The values assigned to the DYS locations make up Greg’s personal DNA pattern.

The next step was to search for matches. When he clicked on ‘Find Matches’, the search compared his set of YDNA values to those of other men in both SMGF and GeneTree Y databases. The search results were listed with best matches first, so Greg started at the top and worked his way down, viewing the pedigree charts of his matches and looking for names and places similar to the ones in his own pedigree chart.

Greg’s DNA consultant advised him to look closely at matches where 30 or more markers were compared and there were three differences or fewer, as shown in the Matching Markers column. Greg requested a DNA connection with a 36/37 match, someone with who 37 markers had been compared and 36 markers were the same (only one difference). This match also has ancestors from the same geographic region as Greg’s family. If his DNA match is willing to communicate with him, they may be able to find an ancestral connection and help each other extend their family trees.

Greg also explored his mitochondrial results and learned that the numbers are locations on the mtDNA and the letters represent the particular marker at that location. Although his mtDNA was tested at about 1000 locations, he only sees six markers. These are his differences from a standard reference sequence, and his search for matches showed others who have the same pattern of differences. Greg wasn’t able to find any exact mtDNA matches with similar pedigree information, but he plans to check back regularly to see what new information has been added to GeneTree.

“What are my next steps?” was Greg’s last question. His consultant led him through several possibilities, including pursuing DNA connections, doing some additional genealogical research, and tracing some other family lines using the DNA of his relatives. Greg went home very excited that just one hour of consulting had opened his eyes to so many options he had not realized before. Exploring these new avenues was something he couldn’t wait to get started on.

Do you have DNA results? Are you wondering what more you can do with them? Whether you know nothing, some, or a lot about DNA, we can help you make the most of your DNA test results. Contact us to learn exactly what we can do for you and your family tree.

Hours: 8am–5pm MDT (GMT -6)
Outside the US: +1.801.428.1095
Toll Free in the US: +1.866.740.6362
Email: info@genetree.com

Are you on the search not only for your ancestors, but a solid understanding of how this DNA- genealogy works? You might identify with someone we talked with recently. Here is her story.

While watching TV one night, our friend saw a special program describing how DNA can be used to trace ancestry. Intrigued, she went to her computer and searched for DNA testing companies. Not knowing anything about any of them, she picked a name she recognized and ordered a kit. The kit came, she sent it back, and waited eagerly for the results.

When the results arrived, she read the report, searched for matches, learned a little bit, but wanted more information and better explanations. She went back to her computer and ultimately landed on GeneTree.com. She created a free GeneTree account, added her DNA profile, and began to explore the website. The tutorials answered her general questions, but she still wanted more information on her specific results. Was there anything more?

When she called GeneTree and asked that question, we offered to give her DNA results a makeover. They got a fresh look as part of a personalized GeneTree report. Her results didn’t come from GeneTree, but she received an understandable summary of DNA fundamentals, an explanation of her personal results, and suggestions for next steps just as if she had ordered a GeneTree test in the first place.

It was exactly what she was looking for!

Her excitement was overflowing as she told us of her plans use her GeneTree report as a reference guide. She was thrilled to have her report in hand to give to family members who know nothing about DNA or genealogy – and help them learn more about the ancestors they share with her. Now she was on the right track to use DNA in her personal genealogy research.

Are you ready for a different take on your DNA results? Contact us about a DNA Makeover for yourself. It just might be the change you are looking for.

We would love to hear about your experience on GeneTree! Let us know what you have learned from using your previous DNA results on GeneTree and enter to win a free DNA Makeover just by submitting your story!

Hours: 8am–5pm MDT (GMT -6)
Outside the US: +1.801.428.1095
Toll Free in the US: +1.866.740.6362
Email: info@genetree.com

SALT LAKE CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GeneTree today announced its free family Web site has completed beta testing and now offers those who sign in a simple, intuitive way to regularly communicate with their extended family and to securely share and store family contact information, personal profiles, photos, video and ancestry documents. Advanced features now available through GeneTree’s redesigned graphic interface include GEDCOM file-format import for family tree collaboration, paternal line genetic genealogy and an all-new family tree building tool.

“We are very pleased to provide families with this fun and easy way to regularly connect and stay close to each other regardless of how scattered they may be geographically,” said GeneTree President and COO Matt Cupal. “GeneTree has the most complete set of features available for sharing family stories, but we go further by fully integrating genetic genealogy options for those who would like to use family DNA to search for living relatives and ancestors.”

A new Y-DNA genetic test enables individuals to research paternal line connections of a male relative, and complements GeneTree’s existing maternal line mtDNA test. Y-DNA results show ancestry and connections to DNA cousins within the past few hundred years.

The opportunity to find and connect with “lost” or unknown extended family members through the world’s most extensive correlated genetic genealogy database is a compelling GeneTree feature. “My 82-year-old mother was almost in tears when I told her we had found a branch of our family through GeneTree that we had lost touch with long ago,” said Rosemary Totton, of Auckland, New Zealand. “Now we are back in contact and I’m excited to learn one of my cousins has old family photos to share with us. In the future we may look at our family’s Y-DNA, as well. This has opened a new door for me.”

Another powerful new GeneTree feature promotes collaboration on ancestry information by allowing the upload of GEDCOM files. GEDCOM is the most common genealogy file format used by all major family history Web sites and software applications. The all-new family tree builder allows an individual to choose a preferred layout, create trees of more than 2,000 relatives and to invite others to join the network and view the chart.

Powerful photo- and video-sharing tools organize a family’s digital media into albums and allow them to be seen by others. Family members can collaborate on identifying people in photos, and photo tagging allows a person easy tracking of all photos in which they appear. Tagging photos automatically sends out invitations to people named.

A new GeneTree family news feature keeps relatives continuously in the loop. Family members update their own news daily and at the end of the week, a digest is automatically emailed to others on their list. A birthday reminder automatically sends out a birthday greeting on the morning of a relative’s birthday. In addition, a feature unique to GeneTree allows users to record a biological relative’s DNA profile as their own for purposes of searching for DNA cousins and to extend their own genealogy chart. Families can divide the cost of testing one member and then share results.

“We believe every family should take advantage of our free Web site,” said Cupal. “This is the best way for relatives to stay connected, share memories, build family trees and securely share and store documents. With GeneTree, it is easier than ever to build a lasting legacy for your own family.”

About GeneTree

GeneTree (www.genetree.com) is a free family Web site enabling relatives to easily communicate on an everyday basis; to securely share contact information, personal profiles, photos, video and other family documents; and to build family trees. GeneTree also provides individuals with the option to integrate industry-leading DNA testing into family history research for a scientific window into their ancestry and to find living relatives for whom no paper records exist. GeneTree users are linked to the world’s most extensive correlated genetic genealogy database.

Watch this video to learn how to invite others!

Invite your family members to join your family network and have a chance at winning a $300 gift card*. Prizes will be awarded to the GeneTree members who have the most unique accepted invites by midnight MST on December 10, 2008. Winners will be announced and awarded prizes December 17, 2008. Questions? Call 866-740-6362 or email info@genetree.com

You could win:

* Gift Card winners may choose the awarded denomination to one of the following: Costco, Amazon, Walmart, or Target. All logos and names are owned by the corporation of note. The contest ends at midnight MST on December 10, 2008.