Costs for DNA testing

PRICES OF THE RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS MAY CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

The simplest testing is through the Genographic Project of the National Geographic Society, see www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic

The kit you can order on-line costs US$100 plus about US$7.50 shipping. I don't know about overseas shipping. Men can choose to have either their paternal line or their maternal line analyzed. For genealogical surname testing men must choose their paternal line. Only men with the surname Finger, and variants like Fingar, Fingers, or Vinger, are eligible for the Finger Surname DNA Project.

What you get from the Genographic Project is your Haplogroup (DNA clan) and a report of 12 markers that are your DNA signature (your haplotype).

Generally speaking 12 markers are not considered adequate for accurate surname testing, but they will tell you if you likely match either of the two Finger families tested so far. The purpose of the Genographic Project is not surname testing but rather deep time relationships in the family of Man.

The company that performs the tests, Family Tree DNA (www.ftdna.com), will perform additional testing for an additional cost. They'll keep your sample for 25 years, unless you ask them to destroy it.

They charge an additional US$59 for an additional 13 markers (or US$49 if you're in a surname project), for a total of 25 markers, or an additonal US$109 for an additional 25 markers, for a total of 37 markers. But if you join the Finger DNA Project at

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/FingerDNAProject you can order a 37-marker kit for $149. They also sell the 12-marker kit for US$99.

For genealogical surname testing, 25 markers is considered to be the minimum adequate number, but more is better. To get started, 12 markers will tell you if you are likely related to either of these three Finger families. You can leave it at that or you can add more markers to be more certain.

Another company, DNA Heritage (www.dnaheritage.com), in the UK conducts tests in the US for American samples. They offer 43 markers for US$189. They will retain samples for only 3 years. See http://www.dnaheritage.com/surnameform.asp?GroupUnique=522515382&Surname=Finger
for more information.

We have used both of these services for the Finger Surname DNA Project.

So there it is. If you want to check your connection to these Finger families it will cost you at least US$99, and perhaps somewhere between US$149 and US$209.

My recommendation - if you can afford it, join the Finger DNA Project of Family Tree DNA at

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/FingerDNAProject for US$149 and get 37 markers. If you want the least expensive route - go with the Genographic Project for US$100 or FamilyTreeDNA for US$99. If you get a 12-marker match with either Finger family, you're probably a member. If you want to be absolutely sure, you can order 37 markers for US$149. If 23-25 markers match, that will clinch it. And if not, you represent a divergent branch or a whole new family line.