Berry Family DNA blog
A place to post comments, requests, discoveries or anything else having to do with the
Berry Family DNA Project, as well as the occasional social comment.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Walk Through the Y Sale
I don't do SNP testing and don't know much about it but for those of you who do or who might be interested I thought I should pass along a FTDNA sale announcement I noticed on the ISOGG lists:
Family Tree DNA is excited to announce our Walk Through the Y sale! Based on recent improvements in our testing capabilities, and in order to spearhead further research in our field, we are pleased to offer our first discount on Walk Through the Y.
This test will be offered for a very limited time to approved applicants for $500 (normally $750). Please note, this special pricing will only be available to customers who elect to have their results made public.
Walk Through the Y is an advanced sequencing test focused on the discovery of new haplogroup-defining SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) on the Y chromosome. Walk Through the Y goes beyond the scope of deep clade testing, offering customers the opportunity to participate in testing at the forefront of Y chromosome DNA research. This research can expedite the discovery of SNPs that help subdivide haplogroups, information that is fundamental to the continued success of our Y-DNA haplogroup projects.
Due to the advanced nature of this test, Walk Through the Y is by application only. Interested members can fill out application form here.
To read more about Walk Through the Y, including information about who to test, please read through our frequently asked questions.
If any of you might be interested and have any problem getting the particulars of the offer, please let me know and I'll do my best to find out for you.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
How many Berry families are there?

We have also recently added James Thomas Barry II, #208, a R1b who tested 43 markers at Ancestry.com. You'd think that there couldn't be that many separate Berry families! At some point you'd expect that any new person would belong to somebody already tested. Nope. Not yet. Jim, #208, also has no matches.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
FTDNA Facebook Special
Congratulations! You have earned a 40% discount on any of these tests:
Y-DNA37
mtDNAPlus
mtDNAFullSequence
Y-DNA37+mtDNAPlus
Family Finder
Family Finder add-on
Family Finder+mtDNAPlus
FamilyFinder+Y-DNA37
Comprehensive Genome
Warrior Gene
The coupon code is 5000FACES. This is only valid for new kits and can't be used on existing kits. Enter the code while ordering at www.familytreedna.com. It expires [about 10] HOURS from now!
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Singularity Revisited

Remember back in 2007 when I wrote here about the Singularity? The Law of Accelerating Returns?
Well, it hasn't gone away and now Time Magazine has a story about it in its Monday, February 14, 2011 issue at p. 42 and online through this link.
I recommend these articles to you and would suggest that you start with The Law of Accelerating Returns before reading its follow-up in Time.
Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day . . . . and Happy Birthday, Jim!