Discussing DNA: Finding Unexpected Results 2020

| Recordings | Special Book Offer | About our Panelists |

An Online Conversation Course with Christopher C. Child, Libby Copeland, and Bill Griffeth
Live Panel Discussion: November 18, 2020, 6:00 PM EST
Access to recordings and materials from November 11 through February 28, 2021

In the past few decades, DNA testing has opened new doors for the field of genealogy. For an individual, however, unexpected DNA test results can open a can of worms: revealing unknown parentage, long lost siblings, and other family secrets. Such discoveries can affect one’s understanding of their family—no matter how many generations removed, their culture, and their identity. This online conversation course brings together genetic genealogists, authors, and journalists to discuss the implications and impact of unexpected test results. Through a combination of instructive videos, educational resources, and a lively panel discussion, you will hear how DNA testing has affected how we do family history, learn about the prevalence of genetic surprises, and gain tools to interpret and cope with unexpected test results.

Recordings

Live Panel Conversation: Discussing DNA, Finding Unexpected Results
Live broadcast: November 18, 2020
Presented by: Christopher C. Child, Libby Copeland, and Bill Griffeth
Running Time: 1:37:53

Additional Audience Questions, Answered!

Perspective from Science Journalist Libby Copeland
Presented by: Libby Copeland
Running Time: 29:23

Perspective from CNBC Anchor-At-Large and Author Bill Griffeth
Presented by: Bill Griffeth
Running Time: 15:09

Perspective from Senior Genealogist and Editor Christopher C. Child
Presented by: Christopher C. Child
Running Time: 44:28

Handout: Understanding Unexpected Results (.pdf)

Special Book Offer

Participants of this conversation course may use code LIBBYDNA for $29.95 off the purchase of related DNA books, test kits, and other resources at our online bookstore. View all qualifying items

Code may be applied once per participant through November 30, 2020. For any issues or questions related to this coupon code, please contact Member Services at 617-226-1605.

About Our Panelists

Libby Copeland is an award-winning journalist who has written for Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and many other publications. Her book, The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are, was published in March by Abrams Press.

The Lost Family explores the rapidly evolving phenomenon of home DNA testing, its implications for how we think about family, ethnicity and ourselves, and its ramifications for American culture broadly. The Washington Post says The Lost Family “reads like an Agatha Christie mystery” and “wrestles with some of the biggest questions in life: Who are we? What is family? Are we defined by nature, nurture or both?”

As a staff reporter and editor for The Washington Post for 11 years, Copeland has covered presidential campaigns, the Winter Olympics and high-profile criminal trials. She has been a media fellow and guest lecturer and has made numerous appearances on television and radio.

Christopher C. Child has worked for various departments at American Ancestors since 1997 and became a full-time employee in July 2003. He has been a member of American Ancestors since the age of eleven. He has written several articles in American Ancestors, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, and The Mayflower Descendant. He is the co-editor of The Ancestry of Catherine Middleton (American Ancestors, 2011), co-author of The Descendants of Judge John Lowell of Newburyport, Massachusetts (Newbury Street Press, 2011) and Ancestors and Descendants of George Rufus and Alice Nelson Pratt (Newbury Street Press, 2013), and author of The Nelson Family of Rowley, Massachusetts (Newbury Street Press, 2014). Chris edits the Genetics and Genealogy column for American Ancestors magazine and is a nationally recognized lecturer on DNA and other genealogical topics.

After covering Wall St for almost 40 years, Bill Griffeth became CNBC’s Anchor-At-Large when he retired from day-to-day anchoring duties in December of 2019. During his career he was nominated for six Cable ACE awards as Best News Anchor and for one Emmy for Best Documentary. Bill is the author of several books, including The Stranger in My Genes and By Faith Alone: My Family’s Epic History, both published by American Ancestors. Next year, Audible will bring out his next book, Have At It, Sister, as an Audible True Crime Original. In the meantime, he is currently working on a sequel to The Stranger in My Genes. Bill is a Former Trustee of American Ancestors.