Why is DNA research so difficult to understand? Simple, it is a very complex topic.
You first learned about DNA in high school biology. You probably then did your best to forget about DNA until about a decade ago when DNA testing became a reality as an affordable, relatively speaking, individual identifier and tool for tracking one’s family history. Now every genealogist is a DNA expert. Right? Of course not. The language and process of DNA testing is still a science with words that belong to scientists. In addition, there have been so many recent books and articles on the subject it can be easy to get confused over all the types of tests, let alone just trying to get a general understanding of the whole practice.
However, there is a much simpler way to grow your understanding of this complex topic. Diahan Southard has produced a series of six, colorful, laminated guides that outline all the basics one needs to understand DNA for genealogists. Her guides include:Each guide follows the popular standard as four laminated pages in a single center folded guide measuring 8.5 x 11 inches.
Understanding AncestryDNA specifically explains Ancestry’s DNA testing and its major components. The guide will help you understand the test itself and what you can expect to gain from your test.
Here is a contents list based on specific headers in the guide:
- Best Matches
- First- Link Your Pedigree
- Simple Pedigree
- Why DNA Circles?
- So Who is Invited?
- Deciphering DNA Circles
- Using the Main Match Page
- One to One Matching
- Genetic Tools
- Try This!
- What Next?
Diahan Southard holds a degree in Microbiology and has worked with the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation.
Order copies of Understanding AncestryDNA from Family Roots Publishing.
Diahan also put together an online course on DNA, “DNA: Introduction to Genetic Genealogy” at the National Institute of Genealogical Studies. http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/