How to Participate
There are several ways to take part in the Rutherford DNA Project.
Ways to Join the Project
If you are a male Rutherford who would like to know where your family originated from and how you are related to other Rutherford family branches, you can order a Y-DNA test kit as described below.
If you are researching a Rutherford lineage and wish to employ genetics to expand your knowledge, you can reach out to a male Rutherford who is a descendant of that lineage — who will agree to test. He might not be willing to pay the cost of the Y-DNA test, since the results often benefit the researcher more than the tester himself! So, researchers often fund the cost of the test on his behalf, or several researchers pool their resources in a project fund such as we have here at the Rutherford DNA Project to cover the cost. This can be an effective strategy, and if the person participating is carefully selected, then whole new areas of research can be opened up. The results of that can not only prove very informative to the researchers, but also interesting for the tester himself.
To help persuade prospective testers to the value of Y-DNA testing, we have drafted an Open Letter to Prospective Participant. You can print this letter and use it when contacting people who you hope will participate. Feel free to modify the letter to fit your needs.
Getting a Kit
The tests for the Rutherford DNA Project are done by FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) of Houston, Texas. They have a large number of registered Surname Groups that receive some special data handling and occasional discount prices. Our Rutherford Group is one of these.
If you contact us, we can arrange to have a free test kit sent out to you.
The kit for collecting the DNA sample is very similar to those provided by Ancestry or MyHeritage, etc. It includes two cotton bud swabs for collecting a few cells from the subject’s inside cheek. Follow the instructions for obtaining the sample, place the vials in the pre-addressed envelope, create a free account with FTDNA, fill in the form, and drop the envelope in the mail. After the kit is returned to FTDNA, it normally takes about six weeks to complete the laboratory analysis and report the results — and your matches with other Rutherfords in the project. When this has all been completed you will receive an e-mail, and your results will be available on your personal password-protected web page at FTDNA.
Which Kit to Buy
Three versions of Y-chromosome tests are offered, as follows:
| Test | Price |
|---|---|
| 37-Marker Test | $119.00 |
| 111-Marker Test | $249.00 |
| Big Y-700 Test | $449.00 |
There is a small additional charge for shipping the kit. There are also significant discounts on the above prices at certain times of the year.
We recommend the Y-DNA37 test. The 111-marker test contains more information, but is more expensive. And, a 37-marker test can be upgraded to a 111-marker test or Big Y-700 later without the need to submit another sample. Within our project, the 37-marker test provides the initial information for distinguishing one Rutherford lineage from another. And finding relationships between Rutherford lineages and where they originate from is the primary goal of our project. The Y37 STR analysis can then be upgraded to the Big Y-700 which analyzes SNPs to provide much more detailed information — such as the estimated date of birth of a common ancestor.
Questions? Just contact us and we will respond immediately!