Thank you for registering for the online course, DNA in Practice: Leveraging DNA Results in Your Family History Research!
DNA testing has been a transformative tool for genealogists—allowing you to confirm hypotheses, meet distant cousins, and solve some family mysteries. Depending on your goal, however, it can be difficult to determine which test or tests to utilize, how to interpret your results, understand how the results relate to your paper research, and how to keep your matches and research organized. Using several real-world case studies, this online course will demonstrate how to leverage autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-DNA results effectively using a variety of tools and organizational methods.
This course includes four 90-minute classes and exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation.
Join the Live Broadcasts
Click here to join the live broadcasts: https://zoom.us/j/92596622175
If you are unable to attend the live session, you will be able to watch a recording on this course page.
COURSE SCHEDULE
January 4 - Class 1: How to Plan a DNA Research Project
Presented by: Pam Guye Holland
This first class will go over the essential steps in planning a DNA research project: setting a reasonable goal, determining which tests will help you, laying out a plan of action, and tips for organizing your results. In this session, our instructor will also review the basics of DNA and demonstrate some go-to tools for interpreting your results.
January 11 - Class 2: Uncovering Ancestral Origins
Presented by: Melanie McComb
Ethnicity estimates are just a small part of your DNA results—and they aren’t always accurate or as precise as you’d like them to be. This class will discuss how to triangulate ancestral origins by reviewing your matches carefully and by combing your DNA results with traditional genealogical research.
January 18 - Class 3: Determining Recent Parentage
Presented by: Christopher C. Child
DNA testing can uncover unexpected results. Be it in cases of adoption, misattributed parentage, or non-paternity events, this class session will demonstrate how to connect with biological family and how to identify the father of a recent male ancestor or the mother of a recent female ancestor within five generations.
January 25 - Class 4: Confirming Parentage of Distant Generations
Presented by: Christopher C. Child
There are instances when you can identify parentage five to fifteen generations back using DNA testing. This final class will discuss how testing genetic hypotheses can lead you to determining the mother of a historic female ancestor and the father of a historic male ancestor.
COURSE HANDOUTS
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
Class 1: How to Plan a DNA Research Project
Live Broadcast: January 4, 2023
Presented by: Pam Guye Holland
Running Time: 1:32:19
Class 2: Uncovering Ancestral Origins
Live Broadcast: January 11, 2023
Presented by: Melanie McComb
Running Time: 1:11:23
Class 3: Determining Recent Parentage
Live Broadcast: January 18, 2023
Presented by: Chris Child
Running Time: 1:27:41
Additional case study mentioned during class session:
C. C. Child, “How are these people my cousins?”: Solving a Wanamaker/Langley DNA Mystery,” American Ancestors 20:3 (2019):60-62.
Class 4: Confirming Parentage of Distant Generations
Live Broadcast: January 25, 2023
Presented by: Chris Child
Running Time: 1:47:45
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Christopher C. Child, Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press 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 holds a B.A. in history from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. His areas of expertise include: Southern New England, especially Connecticut; New York; ancestry of notable figures, especially presidents; genetics and genealogy; African-American and Native-American genealogy, 19th- and 20th-Century research, westward migrations out of New England, and applying to hereditary societies.
Pam Guye Holland, Researcher has been researching family roots in Ireland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Germany for over twenty years. She is co-president of The Irish Ancestral Research Association (TIARA), the genetic genealogy director for the Massachusetts Genealogical Council and is a certificate holder from the Boston University Genealogical Research Certificate program. She lectures nationally, is a regular contributor to the American Ancestors blog, Vita-Brevis, and has published articles on genetics and genealogy in the American Ancestors magazine. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she grew up in West Virginia, and currently resides in the Boston area. During her earlier career she earned a BA in International Relations from the College of Wooster and a MS in Computer Science from Northeastern University.
Melanie McComb, Genealogist assists library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She also provides lectures on a variety of genealogical topics. Melanie holds a bachelor of science degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. Her areas of research interest include Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Kansas, Prince Edward Island, Québec, and Ireland, and she is experienced in DNA, genealogical technology and social media, Jewish genealogy, and military records.
OTHER RESOURCES
Subject Guide: DNA and Genealogy
Archived Webinar: GEDmatch, Features Every Genealogist Needs to Understand and Use
Archived Author Event: Libby Copeland with The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are