SMGF collected DNA samples and genealogical information from individuals across the globe to establish these connections.
SMGF originated in 1999 and was inspired by several conversations between inventor and philanthropist James LeVoy Sorenson and Brigham Young University professor Dr. Scott Woodward.
This blueprint, as developed by Dr. Woodward, would show how closely humans are related to one another, demonstrating the familial relationships between unique individuals.
The collection of DNA samples and associated family pedigrees began in 2000, beginning first with Brigham Young University students, and quickly branching outside of Utah, then to the rest of the world.
In 2003, SMGF moved its operations from the Brigham Young University campus to Salt Lake City.
SMGF also outsourced all of its laboratory work to Sorenson Genomics,[2] freeing researchers to create a publicly available online repository.
SMGF collected more than 100,000 DNA samples and familial pedigrees from donors around the world, all of which were available in the Sorenson Database.
In order to accomplish this goal, SMGF collected DNA samples and correlated familial pedigrees from participants around the world.
SMGF conducted research to identify additional DNA markers which link an individual to their genealogical family, however direct or distant.
[11] Although the actions in the case by all parties, particularly Ancestry.com and the local law enforcement, were eventually recognized to have followed proper constitutional procedures of privacy protection and court oversight in the case, the scandal significantly impacted Ancestry.com's reputation and led to the decision to deactivate the website and mothball the SMGF database.