all been selected for their variability between and within different populations around the world, as recognised in several recent scientific publications.

The markers have also been selected to be comparable with all of other the testing services - vitally important when checking your own results with others tested elsewhere.

Generally, having more markers to a test is best.

Most genealogists are trying to compare two or more people that are suspected relatives. They are trying to determine if they are related and, if possible, an estimate of when their most recent common ancestor (MRCA) lived.

Too few test markers, e.g. 10 or 12, can often give inconclusive results. These 'low-resolution' tests can really only confirm that two people are NOT related, thus the vast majority of genealogists find they need to upgrade to a more accurate test anyway. Because the low-resolution tests are of little value to genealogists, we won't offer them. High-resolution tests, i.e. 20+, are enough to answer your genealogical questions. Our test of 43 markers is a vast increase on that figure, and also allows you to compare yourself with newer databases that have come online as well as any future databases. With 43 markers, there shouldn't ever be a need to upgrade.

pairs are custom-made chemicals which attach themselves to either side of the marker to be studied. Adding enzymes and several additional ingredients, the marker is 'amplified'.

Amplification duplicates the section many times whilst adding a fluorescent tag to each duplicate. This allows sufficient material to be detected by our laser-equipment.

time, drastically reducing the time and effort needed to test for the total of 43 markers.

We use Sorenson Genomics, Utah to perform our genetic genealogy testing. The testing facility is accredited by the AABB for Parentage Testing and has ISO 17025 accreditation. It is one of the few laboratories in the world to be ISO accredited for genealogical testing.

genealogical questions. The graph below comparing the time to the MRCA vs. number of markers essentially shows the accuracy of the tests that are currently available. Basically, the less time to the MRCA, the better the test.

10 and 12 markers are both at the top of the curve, and thus fairly inaccurate, whereas 20+ markers are at the bottom of the curve, meaning a more accurate test. 43 markers provides an MRCA accuracy just over double that of 21 markers, and over 3.5 times that of a 12 marker test.

The main thing to note is that past the curve of the graph, adding more markers doesn't give you a great increase in terms of accuracy per marker which is why as many as 43 are used. One great advantage of using the markers selected is that you can compare with everybody, independently of which company they were tested at. Additionally, new and future databases will include these same markers.

Our test gives the highest number of markers in the world, best price vs. accuracy in the world, as well as the lowest price per marker - all without sacrificing quality.

One of the primer-pairs for DYS389, Primer L, has a unique binding site. However, the other primer, Primer R, binds at two sites.

When the DNA sequence is amplified, two different segments are formed. One segment, DYS389i contains just the 13 repeat section. The other segment, DYS389ii, is much longer and brackets both the 13 repeats and the 16 repeat sections.

Given the above scenario,
DYS389i = 13 and
DYS389ii = 29 (13 + 16)

If however, there is a single mutation (e.g. an increase) at DYS389i, then,
DYS389i = 14 and so
DYS389ii = 30 (14 + 16)

Both repeat numbers have gone up, but only one mutation has actually occurred.

If there is a mutation in DYS389ii, DYS389i is not affected.