Transfer to MyHeritage NOW, before 1 Dec 2018

Two significant announcements from MyHeritage, and further information on them, from:

• Judy Russell The Legal Genealogist in her post  MyHeritage DNA changes — and deadline
• Roberta Estes DNA Explained blog on this topic (and the forthcoming sale of MyHeritage DNA kits via W H Smiths in the UK) 

The first announcement being that you can now transfer in your LivingDNA or the more recent 23andme tests to MyHeritage.
Both use different testing chips from the other main companies (FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage and Ancestry) and have only been able to be compared across companies by using GEDMatch Genesis up until now.

The second, understandable, announcement is that the free transfer program will end on 1st December.
So, if you have tested elsewhere, and want to "fish in a different pond" (recommended) get in quick.
MyHeritage have excellent tools for working with your DNA matches, particularly the notifications of when your shared matches triangulate, and thus definitely you, your match and the shared match, all do share a common ancestor somewhere who gave you all that bit of DNA.

As the message from MyHeritage below explains, those uploading prior to 1 Dec will continue to receive the DNA tools for free after 1 Dec.

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Hi Lorna,

I'm happy to announce another industry first from MyHeritage! We now support the upload of 23andMe v5 and Living DNA data files, in addition to supporting data uploads from all major DNA testing services, including Ancestry, 23andMe (prior to V5) and Family Tree DNA (Family Finder).

Since 2016, MyHeritage has allowed users who have already tested their DNA to upload their DNA data from Ancestry, 23andMe and Family Tree DNA. They receive DNA Matches and ethnicity estimates on MyHeritage for free. However, previously MyHeritage did not support the upload of tests based on the chip called GSA (Global Screening Array), now being used by 23andMe (v5), and by Living DNA. Recent improvements to our DNA algorithms now allow us to support DNA data processed on GSA chips, and so we now support uploads of 23andMe v5 and Living DNA data files.

Uploading DNA data to MyHeritage is fast and simple. For users that upload now, we offer full access to DNA Matching, Ethnicity Estimates, our industry-leading chromosome browser, and more, for FREE.

Upload DNA data to MyHeritage now 

Upcoming changes

As of December 1, 2018, our policy regarding DNA uploads will change: DNA Matching will remain free for uploaded DNA data, but unlocking additional DNA features (for example, ethnicity estimate, chromosome browser, and some others) will require an extra payment for DNA files uploaded after this date. We will announce the full details of the new policy once it is finalized, closer to December 1st. All DNA data that was uploaded to MyHeritage in the past, and all DNA data that is uploaded now and prior to December 1, 2018, will continue to enjoy full access to all DNA features for free. These uploads will be grandfathered in and will remain free.

So, please advise your readers and followers to upload their DNA data to MyHeritage now, while all the DNA features are free (and they will remain free for those that upload now). 

Upload DNA data now

And if they haven't tested their DNA yet, we invite them to order a DNA kit today.

Please see the full blog post here:  https://blog.myheritage.com/2018/09/new-myheritage-supports-23andme-v5-and-living-dna-uploads

Kind regards

Daniel Horowitz

Genealogy Expert

Revised Haplogroup tree etc

Although the haplogroup trees (only R and I) on DNASurnames is a highly selective extract of branches that are of particular interest for the surnames and kits I monitor, I do try to keep it relevant - not always in a timely fashion.

The tree has now been updated.

Other general updates include:

• additions to most of the Surname Project pages to include a link to WikiTree for any yDNA tests recorded there for each surname, which also includes their ancestors as propagated via the WikiTree DNA "smarts"  .
  If you are comfortable recording that you have DNA tested on a collaborative public tree, do consider WikiTree.
• a note against all the now obsolete links to WorldFamiliesNetwork project pages

Surname/haplogroup specific updates of note:

• R-S7361 and it's hierarchy has had a few branches added between it and R-S691 in preparation for a new project that has been requested on FamilyTreeDNA  that for R-BY3127 (BigTree link: https://www.ytree.net/DisplayTree.php?blockID=161) which may be of interest to Henderson, McWhannell, Anderson, Alexander and several other surnames
• The Andrews tested line tracked back to 1679 West Buckland, Somerset, England has jumped down the I1 haplogroup tree from I-BY15565 (some 4000 years ago) to I-Y28228 (some 700 years ago) as there is now a BigY match - with an earliest known ancestor John Taylor, b 1795 Virginia-Indiana
• The Wight line from Bowden, Roxburghshire has been advanced down the R1b tree to  R-BY31019, with no matches even back up to ZZ12_1; On Big Tree at https://www.ytree.net/DisplayTree.php?blockID=4174