Official Gesher Galicia Jewish DNA project, a Jewish special interest group (SIG) affiliated with JewishGen. The Gesher Galicia Jewish DNA Project promotes genealogical DNA testing for those with Jewish ancestry from Galicia. <br/><br/> <b>Please carefully read the important information below before joining this project. After reading, please use the order form below to order your test kit and join the project.</b> <br/><br/> 1) This project is intended for those with *known* Jewish ancestry from the former Austrian province of Galicia. <br/><br/> 2) Genealogical DNA testing works on the direct paternal line (father's father's father etc) for men, and the direct maternal line (mother's mother's mother, etc) for both men and women. Participants in this project must have Galician ancestry from one of these direct lines. If your direct paternal or direct maternal ancestry doesn't qualify, then we encourage you to identify and test a family member whose ancestry does qualify. Analyze your family tree carefully -- you may be able to test a sibling or parent, or you may need to test a distant cousin! <br/><br/> 3) Men may test for their patrilineal ancestry by purchasing a Y-DNA test. Options are 12, 25, 37 or 67 markers. We strongly recommend at least 37 markers for the best results of this project. However, we welcome participants at any level, and those starting with fewer markers will have an opportunity to upgrade later. <br/><br/> 4) Women and men may both test for their matrilineal ancestry by ordering an mtDNA test. Options are mtDNA (HVR1), mtDNAPlus (HVR1+HVR2) or mtFullSequence (complete mtDNA genome). We recommend mtDNAPlus for this project. However, we welcome participants at any level, and those starting with the standard mtDNA test will have an opportunity to upgrade later. <br/><br/> NOTE: Men who wish to test both their Y-DNA and mtDNA may order one of the combination Y-DNA/mtDNA tests, even if only one of the ancestral lines was from Galicia. We can recommend an appropriate project for the non-Galicia line. <br/><br/> 5) Participants agree that the Gesher Galicia DNA Project Coordinator may recommend and even switch the participant to a more appropriate project if it's determined that the participant doesn't have matrilineal or patrilineal ancestry from Galicia. The participant will be notified prior to any action being taken. <br/><br/>