DNA – Family Locket

RLP 57 – Three Steps to Focus Your DNA Research with an Objective

Aug 12, 2019

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to focus your DNA research with an objective. If you feel overwhelmed by all the matches and all the test results you have, perhaps focusing on one research question could help. Maybe you want to confirm a relationship or focus on a brick wall ancestor. We discuss how to create an objective with genetic genealogist Robin Wirthlin. Links What Do You Want to Know? 3 Steps to Focus Your DNA Research by Robin at Family Locket Creating an Objective for a DNA Research Projectby Diana af Family Locket Relevant previous...

The Chromosome Browser: A Tool for Visualizing Segment Data

Aug 4, 2019

For most of us, the goal of genetic genealogy is to identify how our DNA matches are related to us. We want to determine our common ancestor or identify an ancestor who was previously unknown to us. Chromosome browsers help us do that. By determining that an autosomal DNA segment was inherited from a certain ancestor, we can use that segment information in the future to identify matches whose connection to us is unknown. Chromosome browsers also help us triangulate segments of DNA data shared with 2 or more genetic matches. When segment triangulation is achieved, we are able to...

RLP 54 – Three Ways to Chart your DNA Matches

Jul 22, 2019

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about organizing your DNA matches by creating diagrams. Charting your DNA matches in a pedigree showing most recent common ancestor can help you visualize your DNA results like never before. We'll talk about two online charting options, charting using Ancestry.com's trees, and also an offline method. There are many more. Join us as we talk with Robin Wirthlin about how to chart your DNA matches! Links What Do You Want to Know? 3 Steps to Focus Your DNA Research by Robin at Family Locket Creating an Objective for a DNA Research Project...

Resources for Learning About Genetic Genealogy

Jul 16, 2019

Do you want to start a DNA research project to confirm an ancestral relationship? Have you been wanting to learn more about genetic genealogy but are not sure where to start? Maybe you're interested in joining our Research Like a Pro with DNA study group in the fall and are curious about the prerequisites. Diana, Robin, and I have been talking about what basic DNA education would be helpful before doing a DNA research project. Some of our top choices include The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger and Genetic Genealogy in Practice by...

Finding Jeanie’s Father with DNA part 3: Identifying a Familial Cluster

Jul 12, 2019

Have you wondered how you can figure out which of your genetic cousins descend from a particular line on your family tree? Or maybe you have hit a brick wall in your genetic genealogy and are wondering what else you can try. In this post, I will explain the importance of identifying a familial cluster to solve your research objective and hopefully break through that brick wall. I will also continue the story of how I found my grandma's biological father. I hope that you are beginning to feel more comfortable with your DNA research skills By this point you...

RLP 52 – Using Your DNA Results: 4 Simple Steps

Jul 8, 2019

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about what you should do with your autosomal DNA results. If you have a huge match list and no idea what to do with it, this episode is for you. We'll go over four steps to help you get started with contacting cousins, noting your relationship, and preparing to use your DNA as evidence for future research projects. Links Understanding and Using Your DNA Results – 4 Simple Steps - by Robin at Family Locket; includes Robin's template for contacting cousin matches The Shared cM Project The Shared cM Project 3.0 tool...

RLP 51 – Which DNA Test Should I Take? DNA Testing Strategy

Jul 1, 2019

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about is all about the different types of DNA tests. Robin Wirthlin, our genetic genealogist, tells about the basics of DNA testing, which tests might help answer certain questions, and how to know which company to test with. Links Which DNA Test Should I Take? blog post by Robin at Family Locket DNA-Recommended Testing Strategy blog post by Robin at Family Locket The Shared cM Project 3.0 tool v4 at DNA Painter Buy a DNA Test: Ancestry DNA Test - affiliate link 23andMe DNA Test - affiliate link How to Transfer DNA...

Locality Research in a DNA Research Project

Jun 27, 2019

What does locality research have to do with DNA research? Turns out a lot. As I'm working through a research project using documentary sources in tandem with DNA sources, I'm following the Research Like a Pro process to make progress. This portion of the process is all about discovering the locality of my research subject. What records are available to search? Do the localities of my DNA matches match? Taking a look at the place and time is key in our research. The first step in my research project was creating an objective based on my research question: Is Benjamin...

Finding Jeanie’s Father with DNA Part 1: Who to Test?

Jun 20, 2019

If you're wondering how to use DNA to help an adoptee find biological relatives, you'll want to follow this case study series written by Hazel, our FamilyLocket intern. Nicole and I met Hazel at the RootsTech 2019 media dinner. We were impressed with her background in research and jumped at the chance to offer her an internship - the last step in receiving her degree in Family History-Genealogy through Brigham Young University. During her studies, Hazel did a research project using DNA to find her grandmother's biological father. This summer she'll be sharing how she did it in this case...

Where in the World Has My DNA Traveled? DNA and Locality Research

May 24, 2019

Even if you don't like to travel, your DNA has been places! There are myriad places where our countless ancestors lived over the course of time. Many of these ancestors passed their DNA on to us. We each have a multitude of DNA segments that can be traced back to specific ancestors or ancestral couples. An exciting aspect of DNA research is that it can help us learn where our ancestors came from, and where they settled. As you use DNA information in conjunction with sound genealogical research, you will learn about the travels of your DNA segments and the...