New Pop Finder?

[JohnG]

For the short time the ethnic results were posted it gave me a new approach to solving one of my problems. I could look at matches in common between two senior relatives and know that they shared 4 lines - one Irish, One Scottish, one English, and one Eastern European. From the ethnic results, even if no tree was posted or surnames listed, I could see which might be the Eastern European connection. And my 2nd cousin has one parent mixed American and the other Lithuanian. It helped quickly see that a MacDonald or Jones was possibly Lithuanian, and a priority for her.

[benboy]

I've truthfully never thought about looking to see what a matches Population Finder says. Personally, another person's ethnic background doesn't much relate to my DNA so why bother with it. The only real concern I would have with ancient population backgrounds is what would show up in my immediate family, as parent's and siblings which might give me additional hints as to my background. Currently in Beta, my brother shows a small amount of an European population that I don't, which is expected since we don't share exactly the same DNA from our parents.

But once you get to first cousins, even, they would be sharing such a small amount of Population DNA with me that of what value would it be. Knowing their atosomal DNA background as to cousin relationships is far more important than knowing the possible ancient ancestry of their grandparents that I don't share.

Knowing that possibly my Irish populations got mixed up with the Iberian Populations perhaps as far back as in the Bronze ages is a curiosity. Or that perhaps the reason Scandinavian populations show up is really due to Viking raiders carrying people off to the north countries, or because they settled in the British Isle way back when is very interesting historically, but not much real use on the current family tree.

In a general sense though, thinking in terms of populations across the world and how they've met, melded, grown, and died has made for some interesting historical reading for me recently and has given me a greater understanding of how confusing trying to take apart "Ethnic" DNA is.

Hi thanks for the post reply' I understand your point and can see
Your way of looking at and treating your results but we all have different
Ways of using our FT for me and I know many others Ethnic results are very important in tracing Romany ancestry witch I have' I am part of a British DNA project being done by the people who tested the Richard the III skeleton and they are looking to match British Romany by Ethnic DNA results, so for me it's what I paid for and that's my interest so for my matches to opt out takes away from my DNA research witch I am very happy to share. All Romany Gypsys share a common ethnic origin this has been proven so ethnic results do work and are of upmost importance

[muso]

I, for one, am anxious for the new results. The current ones are not reflective of my or my mother's known ancestry. As for those who wish to not disclose theirs, this is their right. I think people here fall into several categories, including those of us who have holes in our known ancestry and are looking for answers, and those who have a strong genealogical trail, and perhaps have multiple known family members - both close and distant - who have tested. The latter may just be looking to confirm or verify these relationships within their circle and may have no interest in helping those who have holes in theirs gain any insight. Still, I have seen many who have learned through their dna testing that the genealogical record may not be completely accurate. This may be another category: those who don't wish to learn that their dna says something differently than what the family story is.

[Mokurai]

This is a quote from a report by Tim Janzen about the Rootstech conference: "Bennett Greenspan from Family Tree DNA announced that he expects an updated version of Population Finder to be available for customers who have done Family Finder within 6 to 8 weeks." See http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.co...-02/1392018034

That was posted on Feb. 10. So, that means an updated version of Population Finder by about early April. Given the well-known problems with estimating deadlines in genetic genealogy, let's just say this spring.

I think FTDNA is serious about this timetable. At the conference in November it was announced that they will use 50 European reference populations, instead of the present 20. If FTDNA is willing to make specific announcements of that sort (not a rumor) in public, I think the long overdue update should come in the relatively near future.

Well...I have come to this forum simply because FTDNA asked me as the Administrator for POWER et al to sort out who of my participants want to bow out on having their results in the Population Finder. Guess I need to know what I am talking about to convince them it is a good idea to stay eh. Perhaps I will need to do my own Family Finder too....even though the POWER people I have asked to join me are not into Genealogy, nor interested in doing any of it. Mind you there are only two branches, besides my one, that have one male person left to participate. With my branch there is my brother...ha! .... and his son, also the GOVANs, MAYALLs, etc. Who knows, maybe there are already people out there ....like the maternal sides (female cousins)... that I do not know about. FTDNA have told me I need to get it all sorted out by the 30th April so it must be close to being put into action eh.


Haere,


Warren.

[ahernandez]

Has FTDNA listed what populations will now be available for comparison?

Yeah, this would be great!

[mahgninnuc]

Possible Date for Release

National DNA Day is April 25th, so my guess is that will be the date FTDNA releases the new Population Finder.

[mahgninnuc]

Except that everyone has until the 30th to opt out of public view :/

[keigh]

I want to make sure that I really understand the opting out of a public view of the population finder. When I did my FF test awhile back, I set the results as a public view. My results were in the Beta testing stage,so I had Western European DNA compared to Basque, French, Orcadian, and Spanish. And since I'm "in charge" of my brother's testing, I saw his results, too. But I've never seen anything indicating that I could view anyone else's population finder. Didn't even think about it. I've just never been curious.

Having the opt out set for April 30th and the questions or comments about people making their results private made me wonder what the whoop-de-doo was all about. As anyone else might have, I've got holes in my family tree. But unless the "new" population finder gives me something really different, I'll just continue with "Western European" as an ethnicity. I just can't see my DNA being broken down much more accurately than that. Somehow 20% here, 15% there, 5% this, less than 1% sodium (low salt diet) and a pinch of spice and sprinkle of pepper just doesn't seem too relevant to me.

[JohnG]

But I've never seen anything indicating that I could view anyone else's population finder.

There was a very brief period when the population finder results showed in the matches list.

[Dust]

Updated Population Finder

It would be useful to have an additional choice to share one's results with one or more others as needed.

[Inge]

I would like to know whether or not the PF results will be/are visible to project admins? And if so will the admins not be able to see the results if one opts out?

[efgen]

I would like to know whether or not the PF results will be/are visible to project admins? And if so will the admins not be able to see the results if one opts out?

Yes, PF results are visible to your project admins. The opt-out just affects whether your matches can see them or not.

Elise

[genis]

Yes, PF results are visible to your project admins. The opt-out just affects whether your matches can see them or not.

Elise

FF matches too ?

[1798]

FF matches too ?

If you change the password that FTDNA gave you with your ID number when you got tested first then I don't think that the admin can access your page.He or she doesn't need to access your personal pages after you have given them the info that you want to. Why would they?

[efgen]

If you change the password that FTDNA gave you with your ID number when you got tested first then I don't think that the admin can access your page.He or she doesn't need to access your personal pages after you have given them the info that you want to. Why would they?

Project admins never have the passwords of their members, unless the admin ordered the original kit and was the original contact for the account, or the member deliberately provided the password to the admin.

Instead, there's built-in functionality for project admins to view their members' myFTDNA pages from the GAP (Group Administration Page), without needing the member's password. If you leave a project, the admins of that project can no longer view your myFTDNA pages through the GAP.

If a project admin *does* have your password for one of the above reasons, then changing the password will prevent the admin from logging directly into your account, but this will not prevent the admin from viewing your myFTDNA pages from the GAP.

Elise