View source for GeneTree

{{Short description|Family history website}}
{{Infobox website
| name            = GeneTree
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| commercial      = Yes
| type            = Family history website
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| owner           = [[Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation]] (2001&ndash;2013)
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| launch_date     = {{start date|1997}}
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| current_status  = Closed on {{End date|2013|1|1}}
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'''GeneTree''' was a family history website focused on using DNA testing to trace ancestry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.genetree.com/faq |title=GeneTree -> genealogy + dna + community FAQ |access-date=2014-11-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127015049/http://www.genetree.com/faq |archive-date=2013-01-27 }}</ref> A website account was free, and within their account users could order DNA tests, enter results from other testing companies, search the DNA database, create an online family tree, and correspond with family members – including sharing pictures.<ref>[http://eon.businesswire.com/portal/site/eon/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071022106222&newsLang=en EON article on GeneTree launch]</ref>
Genetree.com was closed on January 1, 2013 and its assets were transferred to [[Ancestry.com]].<ref name="GeneTreeFAQ"/>
==History==
GeneTree was founded in 1997 by a graduate of [[Wayne State University]]’s Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Terrence Carmichael, who earned a master’s degree in molecular biology and genetics in 1995.  Genetree did not offer multi-generational genealogy tests initially.  Carmichael declared, “Over 95 percent of our first-year business was in paternity testing.”  In fall 2001, GeneTree sold its assets to Salt Lake City-based [[Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation]] ("SMGF") which originated in 1999.<ref>[http://www.med.wayne.edu/news_media/scribe/PDF/Alum-06-SpringScribe%5B1%5D.pdf editor, "CMMG alum launches multi-million dollar genetic testing company"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809053626/http://www2.med.wayne.edu/news_media/scribe/PDF/Alum-06-SpringScribe%5b1%5d.pdf |date=2017-08-09 }}, ''Alum notes'', Wayne State University, School of Medicine's alumni journal, Vol. 17, num.2, Spring 2006 page 1, accessed 24 Jan 2013</ref>
The GeneTree website brought together elements of several existing Sorenson Companies: DNA testing by Sorenson Genomics, the DNA-genealogy database established by the SMGF research project, and the media sharing abilities of Sorenson Media.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.genetree.com/history |title=GeneTree - History |access-date=2010-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230110230/http://www.genetree.com/history |archive-date=2010-12-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9043521/Genealogy_site_uses_DNA_and_social_networks_to_trace_ancestors?taxonomyId=71&intsrc=kc_top&taxonomyName=internet_business|title=Genealogy site uses DNA and social networks to trace ancestors|first=Heather|last=Havenstein|date=23 October 2007 |publisher=}}</ref>
In 2012, Ancestry.com announced to its customers, "In March, Ancestry.com DNA, LLC acquired access to an extensive collection of DNA assets from SMGF."<ref>[http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2012/05/ancestrycom-buys-genetree-and-launches.html Ancestry.com buys GeneTree and launches new service] Accessed 24 Jan 2013</ref>  Genetree.com was discontinued on January 1, 2013 and access to family trees was no longer made available through the GeneTree site.<ref name="GeneTreeFAQ"/>  Prior to that date, Ancestry.com offered their subscribers who were former GeneTree customers an opportunity to download their DNA test results and manually enter them at Ancestry.com.  Beginning January 1, 2013, those who don't have a current subscription to Ancestry.com no longer had access to their GeneTree DNA results.<ref>http://ancestry.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5499 Moving your information from GeneTree to Ancestry.com</ref>
==DNA tests==
===Y chromosome===
GeneTree offered [[Y chromosome]] DNA testing (males only) that gives information about paternal ancestry, including 33-marker and a 46-marker test.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.genetree.com/pg/dna-for-males |title=GeneTree - GeneTree - Revolutionizing Genealogy |access-date=2010-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923110917/http://www.genetree.com/pg/dna-for-males |archive-date=2010-09-23 }}</ref> YDNA is passed from father to son, so males with the same YDNA often have the same surname in addition to sharing a male ancestor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.genetree.com/ydna |title=GeneTree - Y-DNA (Y chromosome DNA) |access-date=2010-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230105940/http://www.genetree.com/ydna |archive-date=2010-12-30 }}</ref>
===Mitochondrial DNA===
GeneTree offered [[mitochondrial DNA]] testing (males and females) that gives information about maternal ancestry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.genetree.com/pg/dna-for-females |title=GeneTree - GeneTree - Revolutionizing Genealogy |access-date=2010-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912211053/http://www.genetree.com/pg/dna-for-females |archive-date=2010-09-12 }}</ref> GeneTree's tests look at HVR1, HVR2, and HVR3 of the mtDNA. mtDNA is passed from mother to children, so people with the same mtDNA share a female ancestor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.genetree.com/mtdna |title=GeneTree - Mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA) |access-date=2010-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230111859/http://www.genetree.com/mtdna |archive-date=2010-12-30 }}</ref>
==DNA and genealogy services==
In addition to DNA testing services, GeneTree sold consultation services to help customers further understand their test results.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/2010/03/|title=March – 2010 – The Genetic Genealogist|date=31 March 2010 |publisher=}}</ref>
==Press==
*[http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/10-storing-sharing-web-sites ''Family Tree Magazine'' lists GeneTree as one of 10 best websites for sharing and storing family history], Sep 2009.
*[https://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3955352&affil=ktvx 'The Secrets in Your DNA'] (Dec 2007) at [[Nightline]]
*[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2221486020071023 GeneTree launch] (Oct 2007) at [[Reuters]]
*[https://archive.today/20130118153816/http://feedroom.businessweek.com/?fr_story=9aaf52bb35333ada32162a85d6e23c4ced76cb26 Interview with CEO James Lee Sorenson] at [[Businessweek]]
==See also==
* [[Genetic genealogy]]
* [[Genealogical DNA test]]
* [[Human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroups]]
* [[Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroups]]
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=32em|refs=
<ref name="GeneTreeFAQ">{{cite web| title= GeneTree FAQ | url= http://www.genetree.com/faq | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20130127015049/http://www.genetree.com/faq |archivedate= 2013-01-27| publisher= GeneTree| accessdate=2014-11-06}}</ref>
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Genetree}}
[[Category:Genetic genealogy companies]]
[[Category:Applied genetics]]
[[Category:American genealogy websites]]