DNA "Y" Testing

The Foster DNA project is compiling results from DNA testing of the Y chromosome of males with the surname of Foster. Only the Y chromosome is tested because males pass it from father to son for generations. See below for how Females can participate.

By analyzing the Y chromosome, we can discover whether Foster males (and their female children) have a common ancestor. The Y chromosome passes from father to son unchanged, apart from random mutations, much like a surname. So with proper testing and analysis, families with the surname of FOSTER can potentially be linked by a common ancestor over hundreds of years.

A DNA test will NOT tell you WHO your ancestors are. The test WILL tell which members of the Foster project and other DNA surname projects share a common ancestor with you. It will give you a probability of the number of generations to The Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA). This ancestor could be your father, or it could be a male from a thousand years ago.

It is possible that your FOSTER family can be linked to other well-researched FOSTER families and also to geographic areas where your earliest ancestors originated. See the Results page for success stories.Top

How is it done?

The test sample is collected easily and painlessly by rubbing a small swab on the inside of the test subject’s cheek. The supplier of the testing service will mail out a test kit, and the sample collection can be done anywhere. It is not a blood test, nor do you have to go to a lab or clinic. This test is only for the purpose of genealogical research, and strict confidentiality is maintained. It is not suitable for purposes of proving paternity or for medical purposes.Top

Why are there different Y-DNA tests like Y-DNA12, Y-DNA25, Y-DNA37 and Y-DNA59?

The number is how many markers are tested. The tests will provide you a probability that you and another person, who have an exact match, will have your Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) within a range of time backwards. The more markers tested, the better the probability.Top

Should I order the 12 or 25 or 37 or the 59 marker test?

Most DNA surname projects are now recommending, and most DNA researchers agree, that the tester should go straight to the 25 marker test. The 25 marker test is more definitive. The 12 marker test is best at ruling out relatedness with another participant. The 37 marker test is more refined. Probably the 25 marker test will be phased out and the 37 marker will be most often choosen. And FTDNA is now also offering the 59 marker test. Whichever you choose now can always be upgraded later.Top

Does the Y-DNA test contain personal information related to a person’s health?

No. The DNA that is tested is just a tiny part of our DNA “fingerprint” which is passed from one male to the next. The test cannot identify hair color, IQ, health related issues, intellectual ability, age, place of birth, etc. Nor can it help in criminal investigation or paternity issues.Top

How many in my family line need to be tested?

It is best to test two or three males who have a known common ancestor but are distant cousins, or belong to different branches of your Foster family line.Top

Which DNA testing company is the FOSTER project using?

We are using Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) for our FOSTER project. FTDNA's advisory board includes reputable scientists in the field. The majority of the known surname projects are using this company and are happy with the results. The laboratory that performs the test is at the University of Arizona. The company's home page is www.ftdna.com. You can use another testing company. U.K. residents may prefer to use www.dnaheritage.com/. We prefer that all U.S. residents use Family Tree DNA. We discourage the use of Oxford Ancestors because of the low number of markers tested and the high cost.Top

What if another company has already tested me?

No problem, join us by sending us your results. Top

What about females, how can they participate?

Females don’t inherit the Y chromosome. They inherit two X chromosomes from each parent; males inherit one X from their mother and one Y from their father. If you want to test your FOSTER family line, you could find males from your line with the surname FOSTER who are willing to take the test. They can be cousins, uncles, father, grandfather, etc. In addition, females can test their mtDNA, which can provide ancient ancestry on their mother, her mother, her mother, and so on. See themtDNA page for details.Top