FamilyTreeDNA recently created a private Big Y Facebook group.
This group is different than others because it’s focused solely on the Big Y product and how to use it for genealogy, and it’s run by FamilyTreeDNA. Additionally, several knowledgeable community members are administrators and moderators. (Full disclosure – I’m a moderator.)
The new group has been around for only a few days, and already there are some very interesting postings.
For example, I asked earlier in the day how people go about recruiting men, especially from other countries, to take a Big Y test. Everyone who lives in a diaspora region wants to know where their ancestors are from. We want to connect with our homeland, find their communities, and, if we are lucky, walk in their footsteps.
In the past four hours, there have been 13 very well-thought-out responses that include several ideas and examples. I encourage you to join and participate. Here’s the link to the Big Y group, and here’s the link to that posting. Perhaps you have an idea to add, you need ideas, or both.
You don’t have to be a male or to have taken a Big Y test to join, but you do have to answer questions. Please don’t invite your friends to join because people must request to join themselves to be able to answer the mandatory questions.
Anyone who does not answer all of the questions will not be approved. We are trying to restrict admission to non-trolls and people who are actually interested in the topic at hand to assure a good experience for everyone.
I’m very excited about this new educational opportunity. It’s unusual for a vendor to create a resource where you are interacting with their staff, so take a Big Y test, or purchase one for your toughest lineage, and join the Big Y Group. Please either use this direct link to join, or be sure you are joining the group with the image, above, because there are a couple with similar names.
We are already having fun, and collaboration is often the key to success!
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NIce, but for those who don’t use Facebook (anymore, or ever), too bad for us.
I joined (FTDNA Big Y * YSEQ * YFULL * FGC – NGS Discussion Forum)
What is the difference?
John
The FamilyTreeDNA group is staffed by FTDNA experts and focuses on how to utilize the Big Y test for genealogy.
Yes, I need some answers as to why I match the Bass surname so closely. Most of my matches on YDNA match with Basses or their kin.
I would suggest looking at the Time Tree for the intersection date, then look at autosomal matches, then look at geography.
Almost a good enough reason to sign up to FB….
Very interesting. A reason ‘to go on Facecbook’….?…..that’s debatable.
5 years and 1,346,404 variant samples and Bill matches no one.
I hope it drives interest and the right person tests to match Bill. All you really need is that one.
I’m glad to see FTDNA investing in this resource. I hope it drives interest in Big Y and grows test numbers.
I am the manager/purchaser of my late uncle’s BigY-700 test. Would I be able to join this group?. I had my uncle tested when we learned his grandfather {my great grandfather, known as George Liddle) was a PNE I upgraded his Y test, My two times great grand mother, George’s mother, was a Liddle. I obtained a copy of George’s birth record through a genealogist, in Durham, England. No father listed. Through the FTDNA Beatty group it’s evident by a clear majority of my uncle’s Big-Y DNA matches being men whose last name is some variation of Beatty that my great grandfather’s surname was Beatty, or a variation thereof..
Yes, of course you can join.
I manage my brothers Y700 DNA, my cousins and I am waiting for my mothers cousins Y700 results. The two so far are interesting but there are not many matches at Y700 so we don’t know which populations either belonged to before they came to England or even to another part of Britain then England.
I have found reading history and trying to link them to in depth autosomal results have given me some clues but more matches would be a bonus. My brother has a Germanic branch that is shown going to Denmark, England and Holland, upstream it was actually in England during Roman times and even Iron Age. One of the Driffield Terrace beheaded ‘Gladiators’ carries his line, possibly as a Prisoner of War or even attached to a legion and getting himself in deep trouble. However through reading up I found a branch of Jutes did actually migrate to Finland, I knew Swedes had but not Jutes. Sure enough on his branch there are four Finnish men and considering there are only about ten in total I find this potentially significant. Some of my closest archaic matches are one of the family groups found in the Faroe Islands, how intriguing is that??? I feel answers are just beyond my fingertips.
An exchange of information and tips and ideas can only be on benefit and may in fact encourage others to upgrade.
My mothers cousin carries my great grandfathers Y line and the surname was included in a Viking study in Lancashire, my only Bennett cousin match on Family Finder is the Iberian branch of R1b and the surname Bennett on the heatmap is Mid Wales where the majority of men are L21….what a mystery, how could I not test as far as possible??? I am so glad I asked if he would mind doing a test, he is lonely after losing his wife and now has a brand new hobby, I now have access to lots of photographs of my great grandparents and great uncles, I have been in contact with other relatives I have never met and I am looking forward to our third lunch out.
Roberta
I have followed your posts for years and value your postings immensely. Like a number of others have mentioned I do not see the benefit of face book. I have a visceral dislike of the company and distrust its intentions which are to monetize my information.
On another topic,
These are turbulent times in the technology /data sphere viz. chatAI. Any thoughts of an article how or if it could be integrated in research such as the Big Y data?
Right now, based on experimentation, I have a HUGE distrust of AI. Hopefully it will improve.