The latest, greatest information about DNA and Genealogy was presented at Roots Tech. There were exciting new programs, tools, and technology announced and explained by DNA companies, and leading experts in the field. Nicole wrote eloquently about some of the classes she attended, and the fascinating concepts presented. It is an exciting time to be involved in genealogy, with new and improved ways of accessing and analyzing information at our fingertips! This article will highlight...
Updated 25 February 2022 I know the feeling–you finally submitted your DNA test, excitedly awaited the results, they finally arrived, you logged in, and then…what? After poking around the website, it all seems interesting, but the question remains…What do I DO with it? There are 4 simple steps that will initially help you to understand and evaluate your DNA matches. As you work systematically through these steps, you will gain a better understanding of...
In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss three things you should do after taking a DNA test at Ancestry. We recommend downloading the raw DNA data and uploading it to the other testing sites that accept transfers so you can find more matches beyond the Ancestry database. We also recommend that you link a tree to your Ancestry DNA test results! This will help you and your cousin matches SO much. Lastly, we...
We are pleased to introduce our new genetic genealogy guest blogger, Robin Wirthlin. Robin has a B.S. in Molecular Biology from BYU and a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. Robin loves to use genetic genealogy to solve family history mysteries and break through “brick walls.” We hope you enjoy the first of her series of genetic genealogy posts! -Diana and Nicole An exciting type of information that can be used to identify and connect...
In our podcast episode today, Diana and I interview Rebecca Walbecq, one of our Research Like a Pro eCourse students. She shares her experience with trying the research process on a research problem she had been studying for years. She began the eCourse with the following objective: “The objective of this research project is to prove or disprove that Daniel Hawley born in October of 1808 in Allegany County, New York and Sarah Sally Huff...
In May of last year, I wrote about a new third party DNA analysis tool called Gene Heritage in this post: Review of Gene Heritage – a Third Party DNA and Inherited Traits Analysis Tool. Today, I have an update! The grandchild report has been released, and I love it! Gene Heritage has done a wonderful job creating an accessible, fascinating, and research-based experience for learning more about your DNA results. As you know, we inherit 50%...
In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss how to use DNA evidence as you Research Like a Pro. We talk about each step of the research like a pro process and what it looks like when you are doing a DNA research project. Links Research Like a Pro with DNA – Diana’s blog post at Family Locket, including the screenshot of her Royston report where she includes DNA evidence Sample DNA Citations –...
How are you using the powerful new tool called DNA to further your genealogy research? Do you look at your matches and have no idea what to do next? What you might need is some order to your genetic genealogy research so you can make progress on your brick walls. Today I’ll show you how the Research Like a Pro process can be adapted to work with DNA. When DNA was just beginning to be...
Diana and Peggy Lauritzen at the BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy, 2018 When is the last time you went outside of your genealogical comfort zone and learned something unrelated to your usual research area? One of my favorite sayings is, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” That statement especially holds true for genealogy. Attending the BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy last week, I decided to try out some classes in...
Are you struggling to make sense of the clues to your ancestry found in DNA results? Maybe you’re an adoptee or working on an adoptee line in your family history. You might be missing an entire branch of your family tree and need a way to discover it using DNA. I recently helped my adopted sister, Nancy, identify her biological father through DNA networks and mind mapping. Today I’m sharing how I did it. I...