Paul Woodbury is a DNA team lead and professional researcher at Legacy Tree Genealogists where he has helped to solve hundreds of genetic genealogy cases. In this article, a reprint from an issue of NGS Magazine, Paul discusses four major DNA testing companies’ tools and their benefits. The article is published here with permission.Four major DNA testing companies offer genetic genealogy testing—23andMe, AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritage— and there are several smaller testing … [Read more...]
Breaking Down Brick Walls with Limited DNA Evidence
Genealogy researchers run into dead-ends from time to time, especially when there is a limit to what information DNA testing can provide. When you have exhausted the obvious possibilities, it can be helpful to have patience and create a convincing web of evidence. Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Carolyn Tolman provides specific examples of how she used limited DNA and documentary evidence together to break down a brick wall in her family.Even professional genealogists have “brick walls” in their … [Read more...]
Top 5 Blog Posts of 2021: Brick Wall Strategies
Genealogical research can bring family members together, deepen connections, and reconnect long-lost relatives in surprising ways. Today, more people are do-it-yourself researchers than ever before, especially with access to technology that makes it easier to find records, communicate with other genealogy enthusiasts, and share information. DNA testing available to the public that began in the early 2000s added another valuable dimension to the resources available regarding genetic genealogical … [Read more...]
Tracing Cherokee Ancestors with DNA, Tribal Citizenship, and Cherokee Rolls
As genealogists, we’re often asked to research the likelihood and details of a client’s Native American heritage. Legacy Tree Genealogists' researcher Michelle Carroll digs deeper into her journey and successful strategies when tracing her Cherokee ancestors.If you believe that you may have Cherokee ancestors and have always wanted to know more, let me encourage you to leap into discovering your Native American heritage. Learning about my own Cherokee family has been one of the most … [Read more...]
Solved! When Your Relative Does Not Appear as a DNA Match
Genealogy can be fun and rewarding, but it can also be frustrating when you encounter problems that don't seem to make sense. What do you do if your family member's DNA doesn't seem to match your own? Legacy Tree Genealogists' Adrienne Abiodun explains how you can solve this all-too-common problem.The ProblemMost of us who have taken a DNA test have experienced the startling discovery of NOT having a biological relative, close or distant, known to be related to show up as a genetic … [Read more...]
Foundations for Genetic Genealogy Success: Profiles and Family Trees
Our own Paul Woodbury follows up on his article about the journey of a DNA sample with a discussion of how profiles and family trees are the foundations for genetic genealogy success. This article is a reprint from a recent issue of the National Genealogical Society Magazine and is published here with permission. In my previous article, "From Spit to Screen: The Journey of a DNA Sample" I described the journey of a DNA sample from the moment a sample is taken to the moment a test taker … [Read more...]
From Spit to Screen: The Journey of a DNA Sample
One of our researchers, Paul Woodbury, describes the journey of a DNA sample from the instant the sample is taken until it is analyzed in the laboratory. The following article is a reprint from the July-September 2020 issue of the National Genealogical Society Magazine and is published here with permission. How does DNA testing actually work? How can spitting into a tube result in an ethnicity estimate, a list of genetic cousins, and other DNA data? This article reviews the technology … [Read more...]
How can DNA Solve Unknown Parentage and Break Down a Brick Wall?
One of our researchers uses her own family tree investigation as an example to explain how DNA can be used to break down brick walls, solve an unknown parentage case and uncover surprises in genealogical research.Important Female AncestorsWho are the important female ancestors you would like to honor in your life? Sometimes finding historical records about our female ancestors is not enough. Sometimes, all you can do is send in a DNA test, hoping that somehow, some way, you will find a … [Read more...]