question about the mtDNAPlus test

[Carolyn1955]

Hi all,
I ordered an mtDNAPlus test for my sister. Her kit was sent to the lab today. I noticed that it list the pending mtDNAPlus HVR1, mtDNAPlus HVR2 and then, mtDNAPlus (Haplo). I'm not sure what the third one is. Wouldn't you get the Haplogroup out of the HVR1/HVR2? Just curious since back when I ordered the mtDNAPlus test, I don't remember seeing that entry.
Thanks

[rucksack]

I've never seen it listed that way before, but it is probably just an indicator that they are telling you a haplogroup test will be conducted.

They do this by testing a specific and selected group of markers to see which haplogroup the kit is in, H, U, K, etc. These markers are in the coding region, the same region that is later included in the FGS. They won't "tell" you on the results page, but it will be in the record. It is NOT a full scan of the coding region, just selected areas that help define haplogroups.

It generally will only be haplogroup specific, not sub-clade. So, it could show something like U*, U5 or maybe even U5a, depending on which coding region markers are in the pre selected markers they test. If it is an H, likely they don't have any more info in the "haplo" test to determine further.

None the less, it will give you a definite haplogroup, just not the subclade.

Generally, only the FGS will be able to give you the full subclade, but quite often the differences to the rCRS are obvious enough to get a good guess at subclade, just not an "official" result of a sub-clade.

[Carolyn1955]

It would be nice if all mtDNAPlus tests included a deeper clad because some do not necessarily want the FGS in order to find the subclads especially if the FGS's biggest benefit would be more on the medical side. I had to upgrade from mtDNAPlus to FGS in order to find that information even if I had no desire to find genetic disorders or medical inticators, etc. My only goal at this point, is to find out if my sister and I match enough that a sibling test would not be needed. Thanks for the great explanation!

I've never seen it listed that way before, but it is probably just an indicator that they are telling you a haplogroup test will be conducted.

They do this by testing a specific and selected group of markers to see which haplogroup the kit is in, H, U, K, etc. These markers are in the coding region, the same region that is later included in the FGS. They won't "tell" you on the results page, but it will be in the record. It is NOT a full scan of the coding region, just selected areas that help define haplogroups.

It generally will only be haplogroup specific, not sub-clade. So, it could show something like U*, U5 or maybe even U5a, depending on which coding region markers are in the pre selected markers they test. If it is an H, likely they don't have any more info in the "haplo" test to determine further.

None the less, it will give you a definite haplogroup, just not the subclade.

Generally, only the FGS will be able to give you the full subclade, but quite often the differences to the rCRS are obvious enough to get a good guess at subclade, just not an "official" result of a sub-clade.

[Bill Hurst]

Hi Carolyn and all,

Rucksack has it right. The mtHaplo test is simply a new name for the old 22-SNP test FTDNA uses to determine your basic haplogroup. They do that even with the basic mtDNA test. Your sister should show up just as a U, since they don't have a SNP for U8. I wish they would use 9698C, which every U8 and K has. Then if someone had 9698C but not 10550G they would be designated as U8. Then more people would know they were in U8 and would join our U8 Project. The "mtHaplo" test name disappears from your list after awhile; it's just a temporary label mainly for the use of FTDNA. Doesn't cost anything and you can' order it and old members don't need it.

FTDNA used to offer an H-subclade test, but it apparently didn't work well, so they discontinued it. Subclades are a "moving target," since they will change over time.

By the way, note that we got our first U8a, not U8a1, today.

Bill Hurst

[PDHOTLEN]

Knowing the haplotype is most welcome. When I look at Mitosearch, my HVR1 matches with a lot of haplogroup H, but only three haplogroup U5. And when I look at SMGF, they don't tell you what the haplogroup is at all. Luckily, my own combination of HVR1+HVR2 pretty much points to U5. The strong point of SMGF is the accompanying pedigree chart (if present).