At present, you can get a 12, 37, or 67-marker Y-DNA test from Family Tree DNA. We recommend at least the 37-marker test to start. The 67-marker test would be best; however, cost may be a factor. The 25-marker test would be acceptable, but they seem to have discontinued it. Buying one test plus an upgrade is more expensive than buying all markers at once. There may be times that we will ask for upgrades to 37 or 67-markers to better understand the DNA results. Alhough there is a cheaper 12 marker test, we do not recommend it, as about the only thing it will tell you is whether or not you are (possibly) a descendant of Somerled. Upgrades can easily be done from your personal page at Family Tree DNA and does not require another DNA sample from you – they will use the sample you originally submitted.
Signing up for the testing is simple.
Simply go to the Donald USA surname project page at www.familytreedna.com
and select a test, preferable bigger than 12. Then go to the next page and fill out the form and you will have a kit mailed to you. Collecting the DNA sample is painless – you take a scraping from the inside of your mouth. You send the kit and about six weeks later you will learn the results. As the Surname Group Administrators, we will also learn the results. (This will allow us to start sorting out the Donald lines). The group rate for the 37-marker test is $119 plus a teensy shipping charge. A group rate for the 67-marker test is $218 plus shipping. These rates are as quoted on Dec 31, 2008. Family Tree DNA takes credit cards.
This project is currently accumulating STR markers collected by two additional laboratories: Ethnoancestry, which currently offers deep SNP tests plus 18-markers, some of which are offered by Family Tree DNA; and the "Advanced Tests" section of Family Tree DNA (formerly DNA-Fingerprint of Germany) which offers a wide assortment of markers. Collectively our display charts created by Professor Doug now show 118 potential markers for comparison with other projects. These additional markers are optional and you should discuss them with Mark or Doug before ordering them.
In addition, various project members have participated in SNP testing to attempt to determine whether there are deep mutations within the large R1b group to establish deep divisions within the data. Once you have tested with FTDNA and find you are R1b you may contact us to determine if SNP testing would be useful. Those results are regularly reported by John MacEwan of New Zealand; the most current report is attached here.
Among the purposes of this genetic study was not simply to identify modern cousins but also to learn more about us as a clan. What portion of our ancestry was Viking? What portion of our ancestry was Gael? Was descended from Colla? Was paternally descended from Conn or Neill? Were there answers to the historical questions posed above in the genetic data?
The writing of history involves the use of incomplete scraps of data to tell a coherent story. In that way it is not so different from the interpretation of genealogical information. Indeed, Celtic culture saw no distinction between the two roles. The seanachie was both the keeper of history and the keeper of genealogies. What portion of the stories and available information can be reinterpreted in light of newly available genetic information? In fact we already have an answer to these questions, and it is “quite a lot”.
Mark MacDonald
email: mark@macdonaldlaw.com
U. S. Mail:
Mark MacDonald
9938 Ontario
Dallas TX 75220
J. Douglas McDonald
email: mcdonald@scs.uiuc.edu
U. S. Mail:
J. D. McDonald
2307 S. First St. #304
Champaign IL 61820