An understanding of genealogical relationships is necessary before diving into genetically equivalent relationships in your family history. This article will provide an overview of both concepts.Correctly evaluating shared DNA within the context of genetically equivalent relationships first requires mastery of genealogical relationships. Here we review important genealogical relationships based on some of the pertinent variables. For the sake of simplicity, we limit our analysis to biological … [Read more...]
Adoption & Genetic Genealogy
DNA testing allows our team at Legacy Tree Genealogists to use DNA information as a means of learning more about family history & genetic genealogy. DNA is a biological record of an individual’s shared ancestry with their close and distant cousins. By analyzing the types, amount, size and position of DNA segments that two or more individuals share in common, we can collaborate with genetic cousins and identify additional information regarding their shared heritage. In many cases DNA testing helps to solve family mysteries and resolve questions about adoption and biological family members that would otherwise be impossible to investigate due to lack of records.
The DNA Guide for Adoptees: Book Review and Giveaway!
I recently had the opportunity to read The DNA Guide for Adoptees, by Brianne Kirkpatrick and Shannon Combs-Bennett. Shannon is a DNA Consultant at Legacy Tree Genealogists, and both authors are very well-versed in genetic genealogy and have much experience in helping adoptees identify their biological families.While the book is called The DNA Guide for Adoptees, it is actually a comprehensive guide to all avenues an adoptee can take or should consider in researching their biological … [Read more...]
Will the Real Frank Stanley Please Stand Up? How to Confirm Genealogy Research with DNA
A case study that demonstrates how to use DNA evidence in conjunction with document evidence to confirm genealogy research.My husband’s second great-grandfather, Frank M. Stanley, was a prominent Seattle real estate man who played a significant role in rebuilding the city after the Great Fire of 1889. He built, owned and operated several large apartment buildings including the Lenawee Apartments, the Barbara Frietchie Apartments, the Summit Vista Apartments, and the Stanley Apartments, … [Read more...]
“Children of the Dust”: How Genetic Genealogy Helped an Amerasian Woman Locate Her G.I. Father
With client permission, we share one woman's experience of growing up "Amerasian" and the important role genetic genealogy played in helping her locate her G.I. father.Growing Up AmerasianWhen Anni was little, she would often ask about her father, but her mother always gave her the same vague reply, “I met him Taichung, then I had you.” Anni was born in the 1960s - the daughter of a Taiwanese mother and an unknown U.S. serviceman fighting in Vietnam. Anni said she always felt different, … [Read more...]
Why Don’t I Share Any DNA with My Known Relative?
One of our genealogists shares her answer to the question, "Why don't I share any DNA with my known relative?" after her own surprising DNA results.Recently, Carolyn Tolman, Project Manager at Legacy Tree Genealogists, and I discovered we are fourth cousins. Her great-great-grandmother Rosa Clark is the sister of my great-great-grandmother Sarah Annie Clark.Not long after we made the discovery, we were sitting in a DNA chromosome mapping session together at Roots Tech. I leaned over to … [Read more...]
Using AncestryDNA’s ThruLines to Further Your Genealogy Research
Have you heard about ThruLines? One of our genealogists shares how to use this tool to extend your family tree.For many years, I’ve worked on building a large family tree. I always was interested in knowing who my second, third, and fourth cousins were, even though I might never have the opportunity to meet them. As a kid, I wondered if any of my classmates were somehow related to me. Turns out that some of them were. (Hi, Cuz’n Todd!)When I received my AncestryDNA results in late 2015, I … [Read more...]
“Who Is This?” 6 Steps to Determine Genetic Relationships of Your DNA Matches
In this article we share the steps you need to take to help determine the genetic relationships of your DNA matches.You’ve taken a DNA test. The day finally arrives when you get a notification in your email: your results are ready! You eagerly log into your account and begin navigating your genetic heritage. Eventually, perhaps after viewing your ethnicity admixture results, or looking at different genetic traits, you make your way over to your match list. There are hundreds of people who … [Read more...]
Keys to Making Your Unknown Parentage Case a Success
You've hired the pros to find your biological family member. Now here's a list of ways YOU can help make your unknown parentage case a success.Congratulations! You’ve given this a lot of thought, and you’re ready to find your birth parents. You know this is a big job, so you’ve asked Legacy Tree Genealogists to help. We’re on it, and we can’t wait to get started.Here’s a secret, though: A lot of our success here is going to depend on you. We’ve helped a lot of people, and we feel like … [Read more...]
Using DNA to Solve Genealogy Brick Walls
Have an elusive ancestor that can't be found? We'll show you how using DNA to solve genealogy brick walls might be the answer!We’ve all had the experience of trying to research an ancestor that seems to just appear out of thin air. Despite our best efforts, we just can’t seem to find that elusive ancestor in the records they should be in, and we don’t know why. DNA is a powerful tool that can help us break through these brick walls and find our ancestors on the other side. It recently helped … [Read more...]
Two Families to Research: When DNA Reveals Surprises in Your Family Tree
What do you do when DNA reveals surprises that change what you know about your family history? One of our genealogists shares what she learned through her own experience.You’ve been researching your family tree for several years and have made some really good progress on several lines. Then one day a monkey wrench is thrown into the works: You do a DNA test and the results don’t turn out quite the way you expected, with a surprise ethnicity or with no matches to the surname you’ve had all your … [Read more...]
