Category: DNA

Live and Unrehearsed Video Series: Episodes 39-40

Here are some recent videos from the “Live and Unrehearsed” series. These videos will give you insight into how to do research online. They are released on the Goldie May YouTube Channel. Below are the links to Episodes 39 and 40: Episode 39 explores DNA matches, how to use Ancestry ThruLines, and building your family tree with DNA results. Episode...

Learning about the Fathers in Your Family Tree

Happy Father’s Day to everyone! On Sunday, June 19 we honor fathers everywhere, including of course the ones that are part of your family tree. My dad was a family history enthusiast. He wasn’t a professional or studied researcher, but he collected a wide variety of photos, documents, and stories and passed them on to me and my siblings. These...

New QRB Videos – DNA Testing

We have added two new Quick Research Basics videos, on your YouTube Channel and as Intro videos in The Family History Guide. These are narrated by Debbie Weaver, a RootsTech presenter on DNA testing and family history research. Intro to Research with DNA: Learn the basics of how DNA testing can provide you with additional clues and resources for extending...

Using DNA Results for Family History

Several weeks ago, Debbie Weaver, an expert in genealogy research with DNA, presented an excellent online class at the Sandy Granite family history center: “Using  DNA Results for Family History”. In the video, Debbie discusses what DNA testing and results can do for you, such as Provide clues for your research Verify traditional paper trail research Validate or disprove family...

Project 8: DNA Updates, Goals 5-8

We have just completed a refresh for links in Project 8: DNA, Goals 5-8. (See the Updates to Project 8: DNA article for a description of changes made in Goals 1-4.) Special thanks to our BYU Intern Hailey Belshe for her work on this initiative. Here’s a summary of the new article and video links available, listed by Goal and Choice. There...

Updates to Project 8: DNA

The world of DNA research for family history is changing rapidly. We recently updated DNA pages in The Family History Guide for Ancestry and MyHeritage, and we introduced a new Project for Findmypast (LivingDNA). Now we are including some significant updates to our pages in Project 8: DNA. Several of the Goals in this Project are shared among the DNA...

Updates to Ancestry DNA Pages

Ancestry has made some significant changes to its DNA testing features, including ThruLines™ and more DNA  matching resources. We have recently completed corresponding updates to the Ancestry DNA pages of The Family History Guide. Here’s a brief summary of the changes you’ll see in Ancestry Project 7: DNA … Goal 3: DNA Tests: Added links to Ancestry Help articles Updated...

A DNA Test May Not Automatically Overcome a Brick Wall Situation

Editor’s Note: This article was previously posted on the Genealogy’s Star blog site by James Tanner and is used with the author’s permission. The term “brick wall” as used in the genealogical sense refers to an end-of-line situation where the next generation ancestor or even some other relative cannot be easily found. Of course, this could be the researcher’s parent...

Treasured Takeaways From Rootstech 2019

My mind is still flooded with the incredible memories of Rootstech this year.  It is a wonderful experience to be on the management team of The Family History Guide and to see and experience what goes on in a year’s worth of planning behind the scenes.  A big shout out to Bob Taylor and Bob Ives for the hundreds of hours of...

Late Bloomers

A while back, I delivered a keynote address on The Family History Guide at the Pikes Peak Family History Fair in Colorado. It was well-received, and there were numerous FamilySearch volunteers there to help everything run smoothly. Two experiences I had there are still fresh in my mind, having made a lasting impression on me – both having to do...