DNAprint Genomics (DNAG)

[sam1933]

Untangling the DNA Companies

Vol. 1 No. 2 April 2008


Genetic testing for genealogy has been commercially available for eight years now. In less than a decade, there have been so many mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations, that it is enough to make your head spin! It seems like an appropriate time to untangle the history of these commercial connections.

Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), founded in 2000 in Houston, Texas
by Bennett Greenspan, was the first company to market Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA testing solely for genealogy.

For a brief period beginning in 2003, FTDNA was a reseller of the AncestrybyDNA test (see below.)1

FTDNA now offers a line of autosomal DNA tests as a result of their 2006 acquisition of the Berlin, Germany-based DNA-Fingerprint.2

From 2003 until 2007, FTDNA had an agreement with Ancestry.com that when a site visitor on Ancestry.com entered their surname in the search field, it would link to a Family Tree DNA project for that surname if one existed.3 Family Tree DNA currently has testing partnerships with African DNA, iGENEA, National Geographic Genographic Project, and DNA Ancestry and Family Origin. Testing is performed through the University of Arizona and Family Tree DNA's Genomics Research Center.4


Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) Began as a DNA testing project launched by James LeVoy Sorenson in 2000 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Students could contribute a DNA sample along with a four generation pedigree chart, and receive $10 for their efforts. In 2003, the BYU project was relocated to Sorenson's headquarters in Salt Lake City and became known as the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) project. Testing is through Sorenson Genomics laboratory.5
In 2001, Sorenson launched a commercial genetic genealogy-oriented company, Relative Genetics. Ancestry.com purchased Relative Genetics in 2007 and renamed the company DNA Ancestry; testing is still performed through Sorenson Genomics.6
GeneTree, originally a paternity testing company based in San Jose, California was purchased in 1997 by Sorenson.7
In following years, the company offered genetic genealogy testing through Relative Genetics and was a reseller of the AncestrybyDNA DNAPrint test.
After the sale of Relative Genetics to Ancestry.com, Sorensen announced in early October 2007 that GeneTree and Indentigene, a Houston, Texas based company that Sorenson acquired in 2006 would be merged. GeneTree then debuted as a social-networking genetic genealogy company tied into the SMGF database in late October 2007.8
DNAPrint Genomics - Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, DNAPrint produces the AncestryByDNA test which utilizes autosomal DNA. DNAPrint acquired Richmond, CA based Trace Genetics in 2005.9


Sources:
1http://www.familytreedna.com/faqdnaprint.html
2http://www.dna-fingerprint.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&
file=article&sid=11&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
3http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/genealogy-dna/2004-05/1084463529
4http://www.isogg.org/ydnachart.htm
5http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,1249,600129402,00.html
6http://www.sorensongenomics.com/latest_news.html
7http://www.genetree.com/" target="_blank">http://web.archive.org/web/19981111184319/http://www.genetree.com/
8http://eon.businesswire.com/releases/genetree/sorenson/prweb563424.htm
9http://eastbay.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2005/06/20/daily24.html