[Hooper] DNA Project Participation

[Clay Hooper]

Donald Hooper wrote:

>I cannot find information about what it takes or costs to make a DNA
>submission to you.  Can you direct me to the site, or give me information on
>how I, or my brothers, would have a DNA sample submitted?
>
>Donald G. Hooper, Group J Family Tree contributor.
>

Hi Donald (et al) ~

Go to the main website page <http://www.hooperconnections.com> and on 
that page click on "DNA Projects".  On the next page, click on 
"Y-Chromosome DNA".  On that page - read all the material, especially 
the last two paragraphs.  I've yet to update those two paragraphs to 
talk about the 37 marker test, but it's basically the same information, 
just more markers.

After you've read that page, scroll back up to the top and click on that 
long URL string to "join" the Project.  That will take you to the sign 
in page on Family Tree DNA's website.  Fill in the information on who 
will be the DNA Participant (the one that will send in the sample). 

At the bottom of that page, it has a place for you to select which type 
test you want.  The rates there are already discounted for us since 
we're an established "group". 

Choose "Y-DNA12" if you only want 12 markers.  Be aware, however, that 
12 markers won't tell you much since that will allow you to match with 
many more people than you are really related to - but if you're only 
interested in which group of other Participants you might fall in, that 
could be an initial indicator - but it could lead you to a false 
conclusion as well. 

Choose "Y-DNA25" for the 25 markers.  This test will provide you with 
much more certainty of who you would match with.  You can only be off 2 
or less markers with someone to be considered a match.  Since we're 
getting more and more Participants as time goes on, your chances of 
matching with another Participant(s) is getting better.  However, be 
aware that you might not match anyone that is already participating - in 
that case, you'd be establishing your own line and hoping other 
researchers will join and end up matching with your branch. 

Generally, folks are only choosing "Y-DNA37" to get the 37 markers after 
they've established their matching with other Participants.  The 37 
markers can further define how close the relationship is between already 
established lines.  However, once you match with other folks, you'll 
eventually want to upgrade to the 37 markers, so whether you do it 
initially or later is up to you.  My preference, of course, is that 
everyone would choose the 37 markers - but believe they ought to at the 
very least choose the 25 markers.

Once you've completed the sign in, the FTDNA company will send you a kit 
in the mail to the address you've provided.  The test is a simple 
swabbing of the inside of your cheek with a toothbrush type device and 
repeating on the other cheek with another one - then sending back the 
brushes and the long wait for results begins.  The popularity of this 
type of Genealogical work has become increasingly acknowledged and used, 
thus it takes longer for the lab to process the many results.  It takes 
about 6 to 10 weeks now to get results back.

You only need one Participant from your direct line, so testing yourself 
and your Brothers wouldn't be of value (unless you're suspicious of 
someone's parentage).  The testing does not test for any diseases or 
genetic defects.  It only tests for the Y-chromosome DNA that is handed 
down from Father to Son for generations upon generations.  In my own 
Family Tree - I tested, then I got a descendant to test from a couple 
other sons of my GreatGreatGrandFather.  In doing that, we're able to 
prove our genetic relationship.  Then our results matched with other 
Participants - proving our Ancestor was genetically related to their 
Ancestors - that we all have an Ancestor in Common further up the Tree 
than we've been able to prove through documents.

After you've signed up, if you go back to the sign in link on the page 
you were last on, then click on "Hooper DNA Table Index", then on the 
next page click on "DNA Tables", it will bring you to the actual Hooper 
DNA Tables where each Participants DNA results are posted and grouped 
with others they match.  On that page, if you click on any of their 
Participant Numbers (mine is 05146 for example), you can see the mini 
Family Tree that they've submitted to show their relationship to the 
Ancestor they're claiming.  This mini Family Tree and an email note to 
me giving permission to post the DNA results and mini Family Tree are 
requirements to Participate.  Without those two things, I cannot post 
your results on the table and the whole effort would be wasted.

I hope that helps Donald.  Let me know if there's anything else I can 
help you with.  The fellow that is a better authority on the analysis of 
all this stuff is Wade Glascock <WadeGlasck at aol.com>.  He's the 
Administrator of our Project.

~ Clay