There are several different commercial companies that offer DNA testing for genealogical purposes to the general public. The oldest and biggest of these is Family Tree DNA (FTDNA). However, there are other reputable companies that offer DNA tests. Some of these companies include Ancestry.com, DNA Heritage, Ethnoancestry, Oxford Ancestors and Relative Genetics.
The National Geographic Genographic Project in partnership with FTDNA also offers a 12 marker yDNA test for $99. The Genographic Project is a five-year research effort to map how humankind populated the earth. The Genographic Project by definition is more oriented toward anthropology than genealogy. If the kit number of a participant begins with an “N”, this means he obtained his DNA test through the National Geographic Genographic Project.
In addition, there is a non-profit organization called Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) that offers free DNA tests with some strings attached. You have to provide SMGF with at least four generations of your family tree and it can take up to a year or more to get your results. Also, SMGF does not send your results to you – you have to search their public database to find your results, which can be difficult.
Since there are so many different companies that offer yDNA testing, it is possible not everyone who shares your yDNA will test with the same company. If your yDNA is only being compared with Phillips men who tested with the same company that you used, it is likely you will never learn about everyone who matches your yDNA. This is why we have created this new website in an attempt to unite the yDNA results and Phillips pedigrees of all the Phillips men who have already been yDNA tested, regardless of which testing company they used.