Can FTDNA do a test with hair?

[oKawa]

My mother, grandma and father are past away. I'm male. My genealogy is very clear on my father's side, but my mother's side is mixed and both my grandma and mother were born without the father's around [illegitimate]. Though, I know who the father's are through research, it would be nice to have more concrete evidence. My aunt gave me a memory box with things in it in relation to me as well as some other items, and one of the items was one of my grandma's hair nets that she always wore. I just looked at it, and I found some hair in it, not much.

Can FTDNA do a test with hair or does it have to have the root?

[penguin]

You don't need a root of a hair if you just want the mitochondrial DNA. See what Family Tree will charge if theyll do it (and how big a sample they would want to use up ) and you can also look around at other companies that will accept hair. if you can't find any, post again.

[Jim Barrett]

Can FTDNA do a test with hair or does it have to have the root?

I hate to state the obvious, but your best bet would be to ask the people who know, that is FTDNA. You'll find contact information at http://www.familytreedna.com/contact.html .

[oKawa]

That's true I should have just asked FTDNA, but I think I was hoping for a more personal response. Thanks, you can lock this thread.

[Donald Locke]

Okawa
Please let us know what FTDNA's responce is on testing hair samples.
I'd be interested in knowing if they do or not. I get asked that all the time too lol.

I got a 1800's family bible and in it is a lock of hair, it would be interesting to see if it can be tested, though I don't know if it came from a male or female.

I am sure many people have handled that lock of hair, so I would presume it would need to be washed and handled with gloves so as to not cross contaminate the sample.

[tomcat]

Another poster recently submitted her father's favorite cap for attempted extraction. Unsuccessful, unfortunately. FTDNA obviously cannot guarantee a positive outcome. As you all doubtless know, Y and Autosomal are quite fragile whereas Mt is a more likely target in old samples.

This service seems to have come to FTDNA with the acquisition of DNA-Fingerprint and the expertise of Dr. Thomas Krahn. And you might direct a post to him at FTDNA.

Good luck!

[Yaffa]

Dna test with hair

I asked FTDNA about tesing ashes and they wont do it. I need a forensic lab just in case anyone is intrested in testing ashes on the deceased to get DNA. This may be the same with testing hair. Let us know what FTDNA says about the hair testing

Jodi

[tomcat]

Is there any genetic test possible with ashes?

[dcsmith]

I asked FTDNA about tesing ashes and they wont do it. I need a forensic lab just in case anyone is intrested in testing ashes on the deceased to get DNA. This may be the same with testing hair. Let us know what FTDNA says about the hair testing

Jodi

I'd highly doubt that there could be any DNA left in cremated remains.
I recently had to make arrangements for the cremation of a friend and the funeral director was required to explain the process. I would say that it's impossible based on what the "ashes" are composed of and there is no guarantee that the remains you receive are not mixed with the remains from previous cremations.

Dave Smith

[Yaffa]

DNA from Ashes

If a funeral home is doing one cremation at a time and keeps everything sterile, ashes from deceased should not get mixed with others. I was told that you can get DNA out of ashes but it would be treated as a forensic issue. I would have to research this further to confirm as I am no forensic expert. But now that they came out with X testing I dont need to have ashes tested and should be able to prove who my biological father is with out going through all kinds of hassles.

Jodi

[tomcat]

DNA from ashes could be useful. Lots of us have ashes. Keep us posted on the possibilities.

[jr9162]

Ashes from creamatoriums are frequently mixed with those of the prior corpse subjected to the furnace. 100% of the ashes from a decedant will fill more volume than the urn or box commonly given to the family affords. There's practically no way to guarantee 100% of the ashes in the urn/box come from a single decedant either.

The only way to ensure that you recieve all and only your relative's ashes would be to personally inspect the furnace to see it was sanitized before the 'burn', ensure nothing is inserted into the furnace except the decedant's naked corpse, personally observe the burn, and collect the ashes yourself. Find a creamatorium that'll offer that level of personal service...

Before I get flamed, I know what regulatory requirements are. Like everything else regulated by governments, no industry is 100% compliant with the statutes/regulations, and there's not enough inspectors employed by governmental agencies charged with oversight to ensure 100% compliance.

If one could expect to extract viable DNA from a relatives ashes, the issue is moot because they can't reasonably expect to receive uncontaminated ashes.

[Yaffa]

Dna from Ashes

This is true.But if there is a living descendant to do a possible match, it is still possible to figure out. I did a little researching and from what I can find it can be done. They say that bone fragments and teeth fragments are usually left amongst the ashes. But I also read an article fron Japan of them trying to extract DNA from ashes and they were in poor condition so they were unable to get the DNA. It seems it is possible that it can be done but it is hit or miss on getting results. It seems to be a delicate matter and is a definate forensic issue and I would think is expensive.

Jodi

[jr9162]

Jodi,
You are correct. However, the crematorium is supposed to go in after the first 'burn' cycle and break the left over bones and skull. Then a 2nd 'burn' cycle is initiated. The remaining fragments are literally the leftover ash... And it's difficult (and expensive) to extract viable DNA from them.

I watched with interest the Discovery Channel article on Hatshepsut, the female Pharoah. I didn't see the end of the video, had to walk my dog. My wife said the scientists made a match of the molar tooth left in the canoptic jar containing her liver to the 'strong faced' mummy. There wan't any definitive statement regarding a mtDNA match with the grandmother's mummy. The scientists were not able to extract a viable DNA sample from her father, at least not in a single attempt.

It seems if Zahi Hawass' team did make a genetic match, they weren't willing to publicise that fact nor the haplotype identified. Politics coloring the truth as usual?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=11464869 It is also possible sequencing of the DNA samples is not complete.

John

[Yaffa]

DNA from ashes

John,

Interesting. Thanks! I hope X testing will give me my answer on who my father is. I don't think I can afford to attempt the ash testing. Definitely a last resort.

Jodi