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From:
Subject: [DNA] DNA questions
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 17:16:21 -0800
References: <NABBKDNBEOKOCFKNJILICEJLFKAA.mu.list@aon.at>


Hi Mark



> One thing that seems to have surfaced is that many labs are offering
> different depths of analysis.
> The question that immediately comes to my mind is:

> Is it a case of the more markers compared the better the results or are
some
> of the markers more important than others, thus giving a quality not
> quantity scenario ?

If the quality of the markers are good the more the better as greater
numbers of markers have a direct effect on teh resolutin (meansing the
ability to predi t the time toi the Most Recemnt Common Ancestor (MRCA) If
you take a look at the chart at:
http://www.familytreedna.com/techfaq.html you will see the value in more
good markers. As with most things in life more poor quality anything just
adds confusion.

>
> Also, how is the research going to progress ? If I put myself and many
> relatives through the process of DNA analysis now, will I be reading in
2-3
> years that I should be doing another analysis that will give me more
> information.

A very good question! As a founding member of one of the companies that
offers these tests I imagine that resolution will go up (as more markers are
added) and prices will remain about stable (or fall slightly) just like
computers. There is an added cost for each additional marker, (more lab
work, analysis and data-basing time), but as the market grows the total cost
should fall due ot volume. Some companies toss out the DNA, some keep it
stored, so if an additional 5 or 10 markers become part of the mix the cost
of collection and extraction is eleiminated from the next test (which would
greatly increase resolution). In fct out population geneticist,Dr. Bruce
Walsh form the U of Arizona projects that the optimium numbers of markers,
from a price/resolutin standpoint would be about 20


>
> Hope this can shed some light on the above questions.

Bennett Greenspan FTDNA Houston


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