Free DNA tests / Tests ADN gratuits

These tests are offered with some conditions by independant sponsors. Their purpose is usually to verify an ancestral signature (i.e. to find another coherent signature) or to check a specific hypothesis. The target is not to give a free DNA test to an unknown person. Take the time to read the conditions before writing to the test manager. Most offers on this site are about pioneers of New France (Québec, Acadia, maybe Louisiana). Depending on the case, a French cousin could be tested depending on his family name and is he can supply a complete lineage with evidences.

Ces tests sont offerts à certaines conditions par des commanditaires indépendants. Leur but est en général de valider une signature ancestrale (donc, trouver une deuxième signature cohérente) ou de vérifier une hypothèse précise. L'objectif n'est donc pas de fournir un test ADN à un inconnu. Prenez le temps de lire les conditions avant d'envoyer un courriel à la personne concernée. La plupart des offres de ce site visent des pionniers de Nouvelle-France (Québec, Acadie, parfois Louisiane). Selon le cas, un cousin français pourrait aussi avoir droit à un test gratuit, selon son nom de famille et s'il peut fournir une lignée complète et documentée. La version français est ici.

DNA in short

The purpose of a DNA test is to find a signature, i.e. a summary of the DNA of the testee. For this, some saliva is sampled in the mouth of the testee with a swab and put in a vial to be shipped to a laboratory, here FamilyTreeDNA.com in Houston, Texas.This laboratory is used because it compares the results with that of other testees and may even find other testees with a similar signature. The technical part (comparing the results with other) is usually made by the sponsor or by voluntaries in a project. Your genealogical lineage will be required before the test to be sure you are from the right family, The sponsor may complete or verify the lineage in some cases. The test won't hurt : it is only scrapping the inner cheek to get saliva. You may have to pay the stamps to return the sample to the lab but the test itself will be paid by the sponsor.

"Complete" documentation doesn't mean you have to provide a copy of each legal document. Usually, the names of spouses and date and place of marriage will do the job.

Y Tests

Only the men have a Y chromosome they received from their father who had it from his own father, etc. The Y-DNA tests are only for men. The accuracy changes with the price. So, it is common to offer a 12-maarker test and to upgrade to 37 or more later, if the results are compatible.

Main offers

To find a first signature. This test is to find the signature of the pioneer when no signature is available. That would be the case for a woman with no brother and no cousin who can be tested.
To confirm a signature. The test is made to confirm the signature of the pioneer. The sponsor already has the signature of one descendant and wants to confirm with the signature of another descendant, ideally another son of the pioneer. In such a case, the sponsor may help to complete the line.
To solve a genetic break. Sometimes, we have 2 different signatures for the same pioneer. This means that in one of the lines, the Y-DNA didn't follow the documents and the wife of an ancestor had a child with the next man around, there is a mistake in the documents, a daughter was made pregnant before wedding and this was hiddent, etc. In short, some family affair occuring over a century ago. To locate the break, poking is made near the place expected in the line. The expectations should appear in the offer's sheet.

Ideal Example of a documented lineage

Your name
Full name of your father and mother, date and place of marriage
Full name of your paternal grand-parents, date and place of marriage
Full name of the parents, on the side of the man, date and place of marriage
Full name of the parents, on the side of the man, date and place of marriage
etc.

Denis Beauregard
BEAUREGARD Bernard m: BÉNARD Madeleine, 1949-07-30 Ville-Emard (Saint-Jean-de-Matha)
BEAUREGARD Joseph Louis m: CÔTÉ Laura, 1913-01-07 Roxton-Falls (Saint-Jean-Baptiste)
BEAUREGARD Louis m: MORIN Adélia, 1875-03-30 Saint-Joachim de Shefford
JARRET dit BEAUREGARD Pierre m: LANGEVIN Zoé, 1843-04-24 Saint-Pie-de-Bagot
JARRET dit BEAUREGARD Michel m: FORBES dit ROBERT Marguerite, 1808-01-11 La Présentation

Example of a documented lineage if you don't trust the sponsor

Your name
(no name but at least "private" for each hidden generation), area and approximate date of marriage
Full name of your paternal grand-parents, date and place of marriage
Full name of the parents, on the side of the man, date and place of marriage
Full name of the parents, on the side of the man, date and place of marriage
etc.

Restrict the private part to the last 100 years (which are not displayed anyway in the catalogue)

Denis Beauregard
(private) m about 1950, Qc
BEAUREGARD Joseph Louis m: CÔTÉ Laura, 1913-01-07 Roxton-Falls (Saint-Jean-Baptiste)
BEAUREGARD Louis m: MORIN Adélia, 1875-03-30 Saint-Joachim de Shefford
JARRET dit BEAUREGARD Pierre m: LANGEVIN Zoé, 1843-04-24 Saint-Pie-de-Bagot
JARRET dit BEAUREGARD Michel m: FORBES dit ROBERT Marguerite, 1808-01-11 La Présentation

MT Tests

The mitochondrias are energy cells given by the mother to her children. They are later given by daughters to the next generation. Everybody have these mitochondrias with mtDNA but the mothers line is followed. The accuracy of the tests may vary and FTDNA has two tests, MT Plus (MT+) and Full MT Sequence (FMS). Usually, the FMS test is offered. For these offers, the lineage provided must be complete with evidence, because family names are changing at each generation.

Main offers

To find a first signature. This test is to find the signature of the pioneer when no signature is available. That would be the case when looking of the signature of the dead father or grand-fathe and no cousin can be tested.
To solve a signature. The test is made to confirm the signature of the woman pioneer. The sponsor already has the signature of one descendant and wants to confirm with the signature of another descendant, ideally another daughter of the pioneer.
To identify a genetic break. Sometimes, we have 2 different signatures for the same pioneer. This means there is some hidden adoption or an error in the documentation. This is not frequent with mtDNA.

Ideal Example of a documented lineage

Your name
Full name of your mother and father, date and place of marriage
Full name of your maternal grand-parents, date and place of marriage
Full name of the parents, on the side of the woman, date and place of marriage
Full name of the parents, on the side of the woman, date and place of marriage
etc.

Denis Beauregard
BÉNARD Madeleine m: BEAUREGARD Bernard, 1949-07-30 Ville-Emard (Saint-Jean-de-Matha)
TRUDEAU Yvonne m: BÉNARD Frédéric, 1919-09-10 Saint-Vincent-de-Paul (Saint-Vincent-de-Paul)
BASTIEN Aldina m: TRUDEAU Alphonse, 1896-01-14 Sainte-Rose
CHARBONNEAU Christine m: BASTIEN dit ROCAN Théophile, 1856-04-01 Sainte-Rose
OUIMET Christine m: CHARBONNEAU François, 1840-10-27 Sainte-Rose

Example of a documented lineage if you don't trust the sponsor

Your name

(no name but at least "private" for each hidden generation), area and approximate date of marriage
Full name of your maternal grand-parents, date and place of marriage
Full name of the parents, on the side of the woman, date and place of marriage
Full name of the parents, on the side of the woman, date and place of marriage
etc.

Restrict the private part to the last 100 years (which are not displayed anyway in the catalogue)

Denis Beauregard
(private) m about 1950, Qc
TRUDEAU Yvonne m: BÉNARD Frédéric, 1919-09-10 Saint-Vincent-de-Paul (Saint-Vincent-de-Paul)
BASTIEN Aldina m: TRUDEAU Alphonse, 1896-01-14 Sainte-Rose
CHARBONNEAU Christine m: BASTIEN dit ROCAN Théophile, 1856-04-01 Sainte-Rose
OUIMET Christine m: CHARBONNEAU François, 1840-10-27 Sainte-Rose