Q: What is the goal of the project?

The DNA Shoah Project is using modern forensic technologies to reconnect families separated by the Holocaust.

Q: Who should participate?

The project is collecting samples from Holocaust survivors, including orphans, and/or second- and third-generation descendants. The project also is collecting samples from any individual or their second- and third-generation descendants displaced by the Holocaust who may be looking to locate or identify lost relatives. Unfortunately if an individual does not have a genetic link (i.e. “bloodline relationship”) to a Holocaust survivor or victim we are unable to assist them.

Q: Should multiple family members participate in the project?

This depends on the structure of your family and whom you are trying to trace. Children possess half of the DNA of each of their parents. Listed here are a few examples of when samples from multiple family members are and are not of use:

1)  If one of the parents is a Holocaust survivor, and that parent is participating in the project, then samples from their children will be redundant.

2)  If both parents are Holocaust survivors, and only one parent is able to participate, then samples from the children will be useful for making connections to relatives of the parent that is unable to participate. In this case, samples from multiple children are useful, since each child has only half of a given parent’s DNA (and each child did not receive the same half).

3)  If a Holocaust survivor (or victim) is unable to participate samples from multiple children are encouraged.

4)  If a Holocaust survivor (or victim) is unable to participate, and their children are unable to participate, then (and only then) should third-generation descendants participate. Third-generation descendants contain only 25% of the DNA of the Holocaust survivor (or victim), and are therefore a last resort to get DNA from a lineage.

Q: How does this work?

Our project uses the same technologies currently used for paternity testing or missing persons identification. We examine regions of your DNA that are known to differ between individuals. Closely related individuals will share much more similarity at these regions than unrelated individuals. Comparisons of participant’s DNA samples is performed by a computer program that screens through our database for individuals that share more DNA than is expected of unrelated individuals.

Q: I understand that for some DNA studies only one gender is used. Can both men and women be tested?

As we are not looking along maternal or paternal lines of inheritance in our project, both men and women are encouraged to participate in the project. Our testing will examine the portions of DNA that are inherited from both mother and father (autosomal DNA, comprised of the 22 pairs of chromosomes that are not sex-linked). This is more suited for establishing kinship relationships within two or three generations, without gender limitations.

Q: How long will the project take to complete?

We are currently in the earliest stages of collecting DNA from eligible participants. There are many variables influencing the rate of collection, including geography, political events and the innovative technologies involved in this effort, and we do not have a precise timeline for notifying participants of potential matches. For this reason, we ask all participants to designate a family representative whose contact information is likely to remain the same for the next 3-5 years.

Q: What is the process of notification?

In the event of a match will notify both participants of the match, either by telephone or in writing, but we will not disclose their identities or any of their contact information without additional consent.

Q: How do I know my information is confidential and secure?

We have designed two separate databases to store participant information; one where genetic data is kept and a second with personal contact information. There are no links between the databases. Multiple clearances are required to access any information, and in the case of a match a staff member will manually lookup the contact information of the individuals. Our security procedures are modeled after proven methods for database security involving sensitive medical information.

Q: How do I know my genetic and my personal or contact information will not be exploited or used for other purposes?

Your privacy is of the utmost importance and your genetic information will be held in strictest confidence. Federal laws governing human subjects research, along with stringent regulations set forth by the University of Arizona’s Institutional Review Board, ensure that our practices are held to the highest scientific, ethical and regulatory standards. The DNA Shoah Project will not conduct any research on genetic samples not will participants’ information be shared with any other entity or organization. More information may be found here.

Q: In your literature, you mention the relevance of a DNA database to identifying the remains of victims in mass graves. Does this mean you will be excavating Jewish remains?

No. The DNA Shoah Project is a project for the living. Periodically, mass graves are uncovered as a result of urban expansion in Europe and, sometimes, targeted excavations by other humanitarian organizations. Actual excavation or exhumation is outside the scope of this project. However, we will make our database of genetic data available to those organizations that have already secured approval to exhume and/or identify the remains of suspected Holocaust victims.

Q: Is there a fee to participate?

No. There is no fee to become involved, contribute DNA or receive notification of potential matches. However, as a nonprofit entity, we do accept and encourage donations from both individuals and organizations. This project needs the support of the community for it to be successful. More information about charitable contributions to this project can be found here.

Q: How do I make a financial donation to support the project?

Your tax-deductible donation may be made through our website or mailed to:

The DNA Shoah Project

University of Arizona

P.O. Box 210240

Tucson, AZ 85721

(Please make checks payable to: UAF/DNA Shoah)

Q: How can I get involved in organizing a collection?

The success of this project depends on amassing as large a database as possible, from contributors around the globe. The more participants we have, the greater the possibility of reuniting families. To this end, we are looking to launch a series of large-scale remote collections at Jewish and other community organizations nationwide. If you are interested in sponsoring or coordinating such a collection, please contact us.

Q: What are the DNA Shoah Project’s affiliations and who are its sponsors?

Intial funding for the DNA Shoah Project has been generously provided by Arizona Research Laboratories (ARL) at the University of Arizona.

The project operates under the auspices of the Genomic Analysis and Technology Core facility, a division of ARL that provides state-of-the-art molecular biology services to both academic and private sector researchers. More information may be found here.

Your tax-deductible donations made through the University of Arizona Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, enable us to expand our work throughout the country and around the world. For more information, or to donate, click here.