Understanding the biologial journey of genetic inheritance can help in the interpretation of DNA evidence for genealogy research.*This article originally appeared in NGS Magazine, and is reprinted with permission.Different DNA inheritance paths can help solve genealogical mysteries. These unique inheritance patterns provide important context for interpretation of DNA test results and enable genealogical discoveries, but why is DNA inherited the way it is? What underlying biological … [Read more...]
DNA: Transforming African American Genealogy
Are you interested in learning more about your African American heritage? Advancements in African American DNA testing may provide answers when historical records don't exist. In 2006, PBS aired a television program called African American Lives in which Henry Louis Gates Jr. explored the genealogies of prominent African-Americans. In this mini-series, Gates used traditional genealogical research in combination with DNA analysis to reveal secrets about his guests’ family histories.[1]As … [Read more...]
Biological vs. Cultural Heritage
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...]