Adding Branches To Your Family Tree Using DNA

Keep up-to-date with the latest trends in genealogy and technology by watching some of the archived 2020 RootsTech sessions at rootstech.org.

In the above video, genealogist Angie Bush explains how to use your DNA results to grow your family tree. It's a nice introduction to genetic genealogy and Bush gives some great examples on how DNA can help break down your brick walls.

AncestryDNA ThruLines

In late February, Ancestry.com announced new features: MyTreeTags, improved DNA Matches and ThruLines.

ThruLines is the most exciting addition to AncestryDNA results. ThruLines makes it easier to discover how you're connected to your DNA matches by finding shared ancestors in your family trees.

The following video from Ancestry demonstrates how this works.

Also note that ThruLines is currently available to DNA testers without an Ancestry subscription for a limited time!

Weird DNA results?

Have you submitted your DNA to Ancestry, 23andMe, or another genetic genealogy site and been surprised by the results? Kristin V. Brown didn't understand the results of her aunt's DNA test so Brown decided to get her own DNA tested by three different companies. She received three different genetic heritage results.

Brown decided to investigate how DNA testing companies decide a person's genetic ancestry and she spoke with Adam Rutherford, a geneticist who explained that "we’ve got a fundamental misunderstanding of what an ancestry DNA test even does."

Read Brown's informative article here and join us in February for a further discussion of genetics and genealogy.

DNA Blogs

Everyone has questions about DNA and genealogy. Here are a few blogs that can help you figure it
all out:

Your Genetic Genealogist
CeCe Moore is a professional genetic genealogist. Her blog breaks down the different tests and explains how to incorporate them into your research. She also lists great basic resources and recommendations for testing.

DNAeXplained 
Roberta Estes, a scientist and genealogist, explains in-depth the various DNA testing services available and helps interpret results.

The Legal Genealogist
While Judy G. Russell mostly writes about the law and genealogy, she also does a series on DNA.

Other worthwhile blogs:
The Genetic Genealogist
Through the Trees
Genealem's Genetic Genealogy

And for even more information, check out the new book The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy.

DNA Kits and Genealogy Research

Genetic genealogy is growing in popularity and if you're looking for a fun genealogy project or gift for the holidays, several DNA testing companies are having holiday specials.

Ancestry DNA is having a holiday special on DNA tests. Save 10% on a DNA kit until December 21.

23andMe has a special offer of buy one and get 20% off each additional kit you buy.

Family Tree DNA also has some good deals on the variety of tests they offer.

Still have questions about genetic genealogy, DNA tests, and how it all works? CeCe Moore has written a good introduction to genetic genealogy on the Geni Blog.

Genetic Atlas

Here's an interesting article from the New York Times about tracing human migration patterns through DNA. If you're interested in DNA testing and genetic genealogy, this can help explain some of your DNA Ancestry results and how your ancestors may have migrated across the globe.

GLOBAL ADOPTEE GENEALOGY PROJECT

The Global Adoptee Genealogy Project (GAGP) will help adoptees learn about their own biological and cultural roots through  DNA testing partners and with the science, technology, and adoption communities.

Mixed Roots Foundation will recruit participants, and will help offset costs of DNA testing for adoptees in need of financial assistance.

To learn more about the GAGP, contact fillinginthegagp@mixedrootsfoundation.org

Gene Tree

GeneTree is mapping the world's DNA using genetic genealogy. The free Web site allows easy connection to genetic cousins, collaboration on family trees, and sharing of personal profiles, videos, documents, and photos.

GeneTree also helps participants to integrate their DNA profiles into their family history research through one of the world's most respected DNA laboratories, for a scientific window into their ancestry and to find living relatives for whom no paper records exist. GeneTree users are linked to the world's most extensive correlated genetic genealogy database.

GeneTree includes a fascinating DNA Navigator that tells where other matches to your DNA profile have been found, and to track them through time.

You can order a DNA test kit from GeneTree, or from Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, a non-profit research organization that has created the world's largest repository of correlated genetic and genealogical information. The free, publicly available SMGF database currently contains information about more than seven million ancestors through linked DNA samples and pedigree charts from more than 170 countries, or approximately 90 percent of the nations of the world. The foundation's purpose is to foster a greater sense of identity, connection and belonging among all people by showing how closely we are connected as members of a single human family.