FTDNA Projects

[Jim Barrett]

I wish that when we use the "join" link on our "myFTDNA" website there was a place we could get a complete list of ALL FTDNA projects. It seems to me they go out of their way to make some of the projects invisible.

[efgen]

Jim,

What projects are missing? You get the entire list, categorized and alphabetized, *except* for projects where the admin has chosen NOT to have their project listed in the directory.

Elise

[rivergirl]

Jim,

What projects are missing? You get the entire list, categorized and alphabetized, *except* for projects where the admin has chosen NOT to have their project listed in the directory.

Elise

I dont understand why someone would want the project unlisted.
What is the point of having a project if no one can find it.
I can understand some projects keeping the results and data private, but you still need to know the project exists.

[rucksack]

There are far too many surname centric and race centric groups on the site.

I think FTDNA would be wise to disallow them.

They don't have the "smartest" business model, that is certain.

They do have the best lab and choices for testing on the planet.

Someone needs to clean house though.

[rivergirl]

There are far too many surname centric and race centric groups on the site.

I think FTDNA would be wise to disallow them.

They don't have the "smartest" business model, that is certain.

They do have the best lab and choices for testing on the planet.

Someone needs to clean house though.

Why would you disallow surname projects. Thats what most people join.
I'm not sure what you mean by race centric. I dont have a problem with geographic or tribe projects. In some cases, like Scandanavia, where the same family surname has only been in use for the last 150 years or so, they are the only way to go.

[gtc]

There are far too many surname centric and race centric groups on the site.

I think FTDNA would be wise to disallow them.

They don't have the "smartest" business model, that is certain.

I don't follow your logic at all.

For starters most people get involved in genetic genealogy for the purpose of tracing their family history through the most obvious means: surnames and variants thereof.

Next, seeing as FTDNA's customer base is growing while other GG companies have either folded or are reportedly not doing too well, I'd say that's a pretty good indication of a smart business model.

Finally, you haven't offered any alternative business model, so what do you propose instead?

[rainbow]

I wish that when we use the "join" link on our "myFTDNA" website there was a place we could get a complete list of ALL FTDNA projects. It seems to me they go out of their way to make some of the projects invisible.

i wish that also. I sometimes hear people mention a specific project on the forum and elsewhere and wonder why I never saw it when I click on join a project. When I click to view projects I can join, it's only about a dozen or so, and not right for me. I did see a search link somewhere to search for other projects, but you have to already know the title of the project and search by typing that in, or alphabetically. And then there is the ydna and mtdna or dual project lists. I wish I could have seen all the projects available to join when I clicked on that link. Right now it still mainly lists projects with "variations " (some just share the initial) of my surname, in places where I have no ties, and for men only (ydna).

[rainbow]

What would also be nice is a map (of the world would be great, but I was thinking of the US) that shows all the states that you can click on, and all the various counties in each state, and maybe even towns, to click on that to see what projects are available to join, and also to maybe start a project. And can see and choose autosomal or or xdna all-inclusive projects, mtdna, and or ydna. If such an interactive map existed, then I would click on New Jersey and Hunterdon County and Flemington and the nearby county of Somerset, and maybe click on other nearby counties that I don't know the names of. It would be helpful and easy to use. And I would like a filter so I can customize my search so I can quickly find what I want and can ignore and not have to read all the YDNA projects. My experience is that those with YDNA projects are not interested in putting together a full family tree anyway, only the direct male line. I have seen many surname projects with the surnames of my ancestors.

[rainbow]

I wish FTDNA did admixture testing. And I wish there was a Hunterdon County Admixture Project. I would love to know if my Native American admixure is a rare or isolated recent event and specific to just a mystery in only my fathers family, or if Native American admixture is found in the general population (many families) of Hunterdon County and is carried over from colonial times.

[rivergirl]

i wish that also. I sometimes hear people mention a specific project on the forum and elsewhere and wonder why I never saw it when I click on join a project. When I click to view projects I can join, it's only about a dozen or so, and not right for me. I did see a search link somewhere to search for other projects, but you have to already know the title of the project and search by typing that in, or alphabetically. And then there is the ydna and mtdna or dual project lists. I wish I could have seen all the projects available to join when I clicked on that link. Right now it still mainly lists projects with "variations " (some just share the initial) of my surname, in places where I have no ties, and for men only (ydna).

Elizabeth,
When you use the join project link on your personal page, below the "dozen or so" projects listed and the search engine box, the other Surname , Y Geographical, mt Geographical, Dual Geographical, Ydna and mtdna projects are listed.
Just click on the letter of the alphabet you want in each section or go through the entire lot.
The search engine does have options, equals, contains, sounds like, begins with.

[Asturianu]

I wish FTDNA did admixture testing. And I wish there was a Hunterdon County Admixture Project. I would love to know if my Native American admixure is a rare or isolated recent event and specific to just a mystery in only my fathers family, or if Native American admixture is found in the general population (many families) of Hunterdon County and is carried over from colonial times.

Are you referring to Hunterdon County, New Jersey? If so, my wife is from there. In what line is your Native American admixture found in?

Edit: Disregard the first question. I see from your signature that you're from Jersey. Flemington as well (wife is from there). That's very interesting.

[Jim Barrett]

Jim, What projects are missing? You get the entire list, categorized and alphabetized, *except* for projects where the admin has chosen NOT to have their project listed in the directory. Elise

Elise, It is worse than that. FTDNA started the project and neither the admin nor the co-admin has touched it since then. I called FTDNA yesterday and talked to them. Thanks.

[rainbow]

Are you referring to Hunterdon County, New Jersey? If so, my wife is from there. In what line is your Native American admixture found in?

Edit: Disregard the first question. I see from your signature that you're from Jersey. Flemington as well (wife is from there). That's very interesting.

Has your wife had an admixture test? Did she get Native American? I took the AncestryByDna test in 2006 to see if I had a small amount of East Asian, because my mom always said she thought I had some Mongolian/Hun ancestry from my Slavic paternal grandfather. She would say I have to be part Mongolian. My result was 83% European and 17% Native American. My paternal grandmother is from Flemington. Her family tree is 100% colonial. That side first lived in New Amsterdam in the 1600s (present day New York) and moved to the Province of New Jersey in the early 1700s. The family tree is mainly Dutch, and the rest is English, Scottish, French (with Belgian), and German.

[rainbow]

Are you referring to Hunterdon County, New Jersey? If so, my wife is from there. In what line is your Native American admixture found in?

Edit: Disregard the first question. I see from your signature that you're from Jersey. Flemington as well (wife is from there). That's very interesting.

Hi Asturianu. I need to clarify. My parents families lived in Flemington. My mothers family wasn't from there originally. My paternal grandmother is the one with deep roots there. My parents moved to New York City.
I was born and raised in NYC. There must be secret or hidden Native American ancestry from my Flemington paternal grandmother. Adoption is a possibility.

[rainbow]

To clarify again, just in case, I wasn't adopted. And there was a paternity test done years ago and my father is my biological father. I don't think he was adopted. I think it is possible that my paternal grandmother was secretly adopted. Or the old families/general population of that area of NJ have Native American admiture and they won't say it.