Biological vs. cultural heritage, also known as nature vs. nurture, is a question withstanding the test of time. If DNA testing reveals surprises in your family tree, consider what "family" means to you. Genealogy is full of surprises. As I was wrapping up a large pedigree project for one of our clients recently, a couple of birth records that had been lost in the mail finally arrived. They revealed that the man the client had always known as her paternal grandfather was not actually … [Read more...]
A Change in DNA Test Offerings By Ancestry
There are recent changes in the DNA test from Ancestry, noting that their storage may affect your notification of genealogy matches. Here's what we recommend, and perhaps who to use in the future.Ancestry.com announced last week that they are no longer offering yDNA and mtDNA tests and will no longer store the data obtained from these tests after September 5, 2014.We haven't recommended Ancestry for these particular tests for a long time, but if you have had these tests done through … [Read more...]
DNA Testing for Genealogical Research
DNA testing for genealogical research is a relatively new concept. Here we break down the basics of each type of DNA test, why it's important, and who should do it. It seems that every day there are multiple news articles regarding DNA and how it is used to solve a crime, make a new medical discovery, help an adoptee find their biological parents, or any number of other subjects. Just as DNA is used as a tool in these situations, it can now be used by genealogists to help uncover the truth of … [Read more...]