Genealogists for hundreds of years have relied on records and pedigrees to trace family lines. More than one has run into a brick wall, discovered an error from a prior researcher, or simply had a gut feeling that something wasn’t adding up. Until recently there was no way to help confirm your paper trails or even those hunches you might have had. Now, with affordable DNA testing, many genealogists are discovering this new tool in their kit. Unfortunately, most are not sure what they should do with it. In this lecture you will learn the basics of genetics, how DNA can help you, and the tests available to you.
On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
Genetic genealogy
1. Genetic Genealogy:
Using DNA as a Tool
in Genealogy
Shannon Combs-Bennett
Trials and Tribulations Family History
http://tntfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/
tntfamhist@kandsbennett
Office: 540-735-0858
@tntfamhist
By PresenterMedia.com
2. •Housekeeping Items
Please silence all electronics
Questions will be taken at the
end of the presentation
Handouts are provide for your
use, please do not distribute
them without permission
Please do not take photos or
audio/video recording of the
presentation
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
4. •Genetics and Genealogy
•
How do they go together?
• Explain
• Using
to me what’s the big deal
DNA as a tool
• Confirm
• Find
your research
new family links
• Helping
other researchers
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
5. •Three Common Concerns
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Will an
insurance
company or
my employer
have access
to my DNA?
•
I don’t have
to exhume my
ancestors do
I?
•
These tests
are done by
blood draws
and are very
expensive
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
6. •Useful Terminology
BASIC DNA TERMS
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Allele / Gene
Bases
• A – Adenine
• T – Thymine
• C – Cytosine
• G - Guanine
Chromosomes
DNA
Genome
Locus/marker
GENETIC TERMS
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Hapolgroup
Haplotype
MRCA
Phylo-tree
SNP
STR
Sub-clade
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
7. •Types of DNA Testing
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Autosomal (admixture)
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Y-DNA
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mtDNA
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X-DNA
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
8. What it is and what it can tell you
•AUTOSOMAL DNA TESTING
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
9. •What is Autosomal DNA
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Term used to describe the DNA you inherit through
autosomal chromosomes, not sex determining
chromosomes.
Image from scotlandsdna.com
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
11. •What Will it Show me
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Confidence for about 7 generations
Can confirm or give new leads to paper genealogy
research
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
14. What the men in your family can tell you
•Y-DNA TESTING
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
15. •What is Y-DNA
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In general, it is the sex chromosome that determines
maleness
Passed from father to son
Image from scotlandsdna.com
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
16. •Y-DNA Results
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Verify male lineage
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Surname Studies
Guild of One Name groups
Probable Haplogroup
determinations
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Mutation changes from
ancestral origins
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
21. What your mother’s, mother’s, mother can tell you
•MTDNA TESTING
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
22. •What is mtDNA
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mtDNA is passed from a mother to all of her children
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mt = Mitochondira
Image from scotlandsdna.com
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
23. •mtDNA Results
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Tool for deep ancestry
identification
Probable haplogroup
identification
Tests HVR1 and HVR2
regions
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
27. A test for those “in-between” ancestors
•X-CHROMOSOME TESTING
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
28. •What it can tell you
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Men receive X-Chromosome
from their mother
Women receive and XChromosome from each
parent
Inheritance is similar to
Autosomal DNA
•
X-Chromosomes crossover just
like autosomal chromosomes
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
32. Labs, books, websites, and groups
•TESTING COMPANIES AND
RESOURCES
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
33. •A Few Testing Companies
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FTDNA
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23andMe
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AncestryDNA
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National Geographic
and Geneographic
Project
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
34. •Websites, Blogs, and Books
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Genetics Home
Reference
DNA Interactive
International
Society of Genetic
Genealogists
(ISOGG)
ISOGG Wiki
Guild of One Name
Studies
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Your Genetic
Genealogist by
Cece Moore
The Genetic
Genealogist by
Blaine Bettinger
DNAeXplained by
Roberta Estes
On-line Journal of
Genetics and
Genealogy
•
•
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The Practical Guide to
the Genetic Family
History.
How to DNA Test Our
Family Relationships.
DNA and Genealogy.
Trace Your Roots with
DNA: Using Genetic
Tests to Explore Your
Family Tree.
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
35. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING
Shannon Combs-Bennett
Trials and Tribulations Family History
http://tntfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/
tntfamhist@kandsbennett
Office: 540-735-0858
@tntfamhist
Shannon Combs-Bennett (c) 2014
