GeneTree.com Unveils New Family Consultation Service

GeneTree.com unveiled the Family Consultation Service, an in-depth examination of genealogical and DNA data that is designed to assist avid genealogists with established family groups and those trying to identify ancestors in specific family lines.

To accent the Family Consultation service, GeneTree.com is offering a new DNA test, known as Y-19. The Y-19 test provides testing of additional DNA markers beyond the 46 markers typically used for ancestral testing, and brings an added layer of knowledge in identifying whether distant ancestors were siblings, cousins or even second cousins.

“We call the Y-19 test ‘the differentiator,’” said Scott Woodward, president of GeneTree.com. “We often recommend the test after a Family Consultation because it can provide so much additional detail about the relationship between a person’s ancestors and help narrow down research to specific genealogical lines.”

The Family Consultation Service comes at a point as more people turn to DNA testing in establishing their family lines. Yet understanding DNA data and how it fits in family history research can present a challenge even to the most experienced genealogists.

“GeneTree’s Family Consultation Service combines genetic data and genealogy work and shows how the two come together,” Woodward said. “Genetics are a relatively new science that can be extremely useful to genealogists, yet so many people get DNA tests and don’t know how to apply it to their family history research. This Family Consultation Service helps remove much of that mystery.”

The Family Consultation Service was showcased at this year’s RootsTech family history conference in Salt Lake City Feb. 2-4 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. At the conference, GeneTree.com offered free 10-minute consultations.

“People put a lot of money into DNA testing and into genealogy, but they are not doing a good job of combining the two,” Woodward added. “Many genealogists don’t know how to get the most out of the interpretation. For instance, there is a lot you can learn by one single little mutation that two people share. There are a lot of people who need someone to look at their genealogical DNA data and tell them what it means. GeneTree.com can help people design the right DNA test, interpret the results and point you in the right directions.”
(2.7.12)