Join the The Ards Peninsula DNA Project

Participation in this Project: Our project is open to any family who meets the project criteria. There are separate sections for the Surname (yDNA) and Maternal (mtDNA) tests.

Project Discussion: The DNA information is to be used in conjunction with historical and traditional research. DNA results do not often “prove” a relationship, but can be quite helpful in guiding research. If a DNA profile does not match traditional genealogy, a hypothesized relationship may be incorrect. At other times DNA results may point to an unknown adoption in the family, or some other so-called non-paternity event.

Since a Geographical Project in essence traces members of families that come from the same region, independent of being males or females, the test to be ordered can be the Y-DNA12, Y-DNA25, or Y-DNA37 (to trace a paternal line), mtDNA or mtDNAPlus (to trace a maternal line), or the combined DNAPlus test.

Females can also order a test for themselves, which will be the mtDNA or mtDNAPlus.

Y-DNA test results will be posted on the Patriarch page while mtDNA results will be posted to the Matriarch page.

Click here to place an order for a DNA test at Family Tree DNA

What are the specifics?

• The test will be conducted by Family Tree DNA of Houston TX, the World's leading testing company for Surname DNA Projects. The cost per participant is dependent on the number of markers tested, but all tests include an estimate of the Haplogroup (an indication of deep ancestry). We personally recommend the largest number of markers that you can afford. We expect that most serious researchers will eventually upgrade to 37 markers and HVR1+HVR2 - if they don't start there. Either the 25 or 37 marker test can be useful in identifying other families that share a common ancestor. It is highly likely that a 12 marker test will ultimately require an upgrade. We recommend the 12 marker test only for those folks who are sponsoring other families in search of a match to their own family or those who cannot afford a 25 marker test.

  
  Surname (yDNA) Test

  • Y-DNA 67 marker test $269

  • Y-DNA 37 marker test $189

  • Y-DNA 25 marker test $148

  • Y-DNA 12 marker screening test $99

  
  Matriarch (mtDNA) Test (also called mitochondrial DNA)

  • HVR1 test (also called mtDNA) $129

  • HVR1 and HVR2 (also called mtDNA Plus) $189

  • megaDNA (also called mt Full Sequence) $895

  
  Combined Test

  • Y-DNA 12 + mtDNA $199

  • Y-DNA 37 + mtDNA Plus $339

  • Y-DNA 67 + mtDNA Plus $409

  • Y-DNA 67 + mega mtDNA $935

  • Add $2 for US postage and $4 for international postage

• The test is a simple cheek swab. The kit will arrive and leave your house by mail. You simply rub the inside of your cheek a number of times with a special scraper, put the kit back into the envelope, and put it in the mail.

• If you are interested in participating, please contact one of the Project Administrators listed below and submit your pedigree.

What do I do if I have questions?

Please read the Freq Asked Questions at World Families Network first.