Native DNA - Chronology of Events
July 24, 2008 - While attending a great aunt’s funeral in Dunn, NC, at the age of 26, Chris learned of Native
American ancestry in his family and was determined to learn more
August 2008 - Chris and Destinee began genealogical research, but were told Native American ancestry didn’t
exist in the Johnston County, NC area where Chris’ grandmother’s family is from. No records of Native American
ancestry were found at the Johnston County Heritage Center in Smithfield.
September 2008 - The search for an ancestry DNA testing service began
July 2009 - Chris and Destinee were tested by The Testing Center LLC. in Huntsville, AL. The tests were a scam
and the couple filed a $600 lawsuit, which they won, but Judge Karen Hall didn’t order monetary
garnishment. The Testing Center was not present at the hearing in January 2010.
November 2009 - Chris’ mother took a DNA Tribes test and Native American ancestry was confirmed, although
the genetic tribal connection remained unknown
December 2009 - Experimentation began with Omnipop, an Excel spreadsheet designed to assign most likely
population matches using STR data. The online EHSTRAFD STR population interface was also heavily used.
May 2009 - Chris began to be mentored by Lucas Martin, the late owner-operator of DNA Tribes. For five years,
Lucas answered Chris’ weekly questions concerning how to find studies containing STR (short tandem repeat)
genetic frequency data, interpretation of results, STR sample specimen collection anomalies, STR profile
inference for relatives, professional business practice etc.
August 2009 - Using Google Scholar, Chris began collecting and reading peer reviewed scientific journal papers
on STR DNA testing for ancestry
June 2010 - Several hundred journal papers had been accumulated and read
June 2011 - Chris’ father-in-law, Dave, helped him determine how to add STR population data to Omnipop, which
served as the base program for Pinnacle, Native DNA’s first STR analysis program. World populations were added
rapidly.
July 2011 - Chris decided that he wanted to start a business in DNA testing for ancestry as soon as possible
September 28, 2012 - The Native DNA Facebook business page was created, and STR orders could be accepted
through PayPal.
October 13, 2012 - The first Native DNA 17 STR order was received
December 2014 - Native-DNA.com, Native DNA’s official website, is constructed using web host Weebly
May 2015 - Construction began on Pinnacle 3, the third generation of Native DNA’s proprietary STR ancestry
calculator. Pinnacle 3 is capable of processing up to 30 STR markers.
July 15, 2015 - Native DNA signed a Distributor Agreement with DDC (DNA Diagnostics Center) of Fairfield, Ohio.
January 1, 2017 - YouTube account created
July 2020 - Native DNA closed for 10 months as Chris attempted to complete his PhD in Meteorology at
Mississippi State University, an endeavor he gladly gave up in December 2021. Business was growing too fast for
Chris to keep up with both his PhD program and Native DNA.
April 15, 2021 - Native DNA reopens for business, and design of an SNP raw data calculator commences.
November 24, 2022 - The first annual Black Friday through Cyber Monday Native DNA sale tradition
January 10, 2023 - The Native DNA SNP analysis debuts
February 2023 - Business surges following a Facebook business ad Destinee decides to list
February 29, 2024 - Debut of the Native DNA Deep Dive STR Analysis
April 2024 - Switched web hosts from Weebly to the more versatile Wix platform
April 21, 2024 - At the request of our customers, the Native DNA Facebook group page was created