FTDNA ends the U of Ariz partnership; all Testing now at FTDNA lab in Houston

[Terry Barton]

I just learned that FTDNA has ended their testing relationship with the University of Arizona and is (or will soon be) conducting all testing at their GRC lab in Houston.  Here is the statement that was included in an answer about a specific issue:

"... Family Tree DNA has had a longstanding partnership with the University of Arizona, which has been a testing partner with FTDNA for nearly 12 years. However, this partnership has recently come to a close, as we have decided to move all of our testing into our in-house lab. ... Family Tree DNA's in-house lab, called the GRC ..."

Does anyone have additional insight on this change?  Has anyone seen a formal announcement?

Terry

[Paul Burns]

No, news to me. I see that Dr. Hammer will be a speaker at the Nov admin conference. Topic: "Interesting Developments in the Y-Chromosome"
Paul B

[gtc]

Some time back (can't recall exactly when but within the last year or so IIRC) FTDNA upgraded its own lab facility.

Maybe they did this ahead of a contract with U of A coming to its expiry?

Also, there's this:

"In September 2012 Gene by Gene was restructured, encompassing the following four divisions" :

http://www.genebygene.com/

[Joseph David Lyttle]

Terry,

I would have thought they would have informed you, straight out. I found this by accident, when our new Little project member came in as 66/67 to me, yet he did not have that null439, like the rest of my lineage.

I have emailed the admins for the null 439 project, with no response to date. I am also waiting on a reply from a Mr Greenspan at FTDNA.

My concern, in addition to what it does to the Little nulls (if a systematic change makes us all 12's without testing) but a larger concern should be what happens to the null439 group? They evaporate.

D. Lyttle

[Terry Barton]

Suggest you read the Null 439 Topic at:

http://www.worldfamilies.net/forum/index.php?topic=10933.0

I don't know what the Null 439 project will do, as I am not involved.  Would it make sense for them to rename it "R-L1 (previously Null 439)" or something similar?