Announcing Family Tree DNA's new Big Y-500 test

Since its inception Family Tree DNA has been conducting Y-chromosome DNA tests. Originally these were STR tests, then Family Tree DNA began SNP testing. For an explanation of the differences between these tests, see Y-DNA STRs, SNPs, and Haplogroups.

Until today, Family Tree DNA's most recent Y-DNA test was called the Big Y which was a SNP discovery test.  But now there is a new, combined Big Y-500 test that is absolutely amazing. Here is how FTDNA describes the new test.
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What is Big Y-500?

• The Big Y and Y-111 will be sold together in a product called Big Y-500
• It includes all SNP information currently included in Big Y, as well as the 111 STRs of the Y-111 and newly reported STRs 
• Approximately 45 STRs used in the Y-111 product are also reliably called from Big Y data and will serve as additional cross-checks to control the quality of the Big Y-500 product

Where did the 500 come from?

• Approximately 450 STRs were chosen from Big Y data because they can be reliably called on a consistent basis 
• Of the ~450 STRs, at least 389 will be reported and when combined with the Y-111, that gives a total of at least 500 STRs

 

Note: Everyone with Y500 will have 500 STRs (including the Y-111), but not everyone will have exactly the same 389 additional STRs from the Big Y. There will be a significant overlap, but there will be some STRs that are called for one tester that may not be reliably callable for another tester. Big Y-500 STR values will be displayed on the tester's Y-STR results page. 

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If you would like to see how these new STRs look, please see STRs now included in Big Y500 test! 

Family Tree DNA has removed the requirement that a man has to order an STR test before ordering the Big Y.  Anyone can now order the Big Y-500 and will get a 111- marker STR test, the Big Y SNP discovery test, and hundreds of additional STRs. For DNA Day, the new test is on sale for $649 (regularly $799).

If you have previously done some Y-DNA testing with Family Tree DNA the upgrade prices are shown in the following image:

It will be fascinating to see what we can discover about our families with the new Y-DNA data!