FIBIS Blog

Win a FREE DNA test!

12 Nov | News,

Last year FIBIS ran a competition awarding genealogical DNA tests to three members. This year we are able to repeat the competition and help three more FIBIS members explore their ancestry using DNA using a Family Finder test from Family Tree DNA.

Those of us researching ancestors in India often suspect that the cause of a brick wall is an ancestor of  Indian origin. A  lack of documentary evidence can make this hard to prove, but NA tests can sometimes help in these situations. The FIBIS DNA project was set up to assist  people wishing to use DNA testing to explore their British Indian origins.

Free DNA test image

What is a Family Finder Test?

A Family Finder Test can identify living genetic relatives who share an ancestor with you up to 5 generations back. The test can be taken by men or women. Family Finder uses autosomal DNA (Chromosomes 1-22) and the X chromosome to identify regions of your DNA that are ‘identical by descent’ (IBD) with other members of the Family Tree DNA database. The amount of IBD DNA shared between two individuals is used to determine a relationship range and a suggested relationship.

The test also provides percentages of your ancestral make-up. For example it might say you are 90% European and 10% Central/South Asian. It might then break it down European further into 50% British Isles, 20% Central and Western Europe, 15% Scandinavian and 5% Southern European and Central/South Asian into 5% Eurasian Heartland and 5% Indian Tectonic. There are currently 22 population clusters in seven geographic groups used to evaluate your biogeographic ethnicity or ancestry.

Due to the nature of autosomal DNA, the test does not specify from which branch of your family tree your matches or the percentages of your geographic heritage derive.

If you have hit a brick wall in your family history in India and think a DNA test might help then why not enter the competition?

How to enter

The competition is open to FIBIS members only. To enter please submit 400-600 words on why you feel a DNA test would be useful in helping you with your British India research and include brief details of your family and your brick wall. If you feel a Y-DNA or mtDNA test will be more beneficial to your research please explain why and we may consider providing a discount off the relevant test in place of the Family Finder test. Send you entries to [email protected] and please remember to include  your FIBIS membership number.

Terms & Conditions

  • All entrants must be FIBIS members.
  • FIBIS trustees and their immediate family may not enter.
  • The FIBIS Committee will pick the winning entrants and the judges ‘ decision will be final with no correspondence being entered into regarding judging.
  • The judges reserve the right not to award any free tests if the quality of entries justifies that action.
  • The competition closes on 31st December 2015 and winners will be notified by 1st March  2016.
  • Winners agree to having their stories publicised by FIBIS, but full test results will not be released to the public.

Not a FIBIS member? To find out more about the benefits of membership see the membership page or join online