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When DNA Leads You Astray
I’m currently going through what I refer to as “the great purge.” This occurs when you can’t stand the accumulated piles and boxes of “stuff” and the file drawers are full, so you set about throwing...
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Ethnicity is Just an Estimate – Yes, Really!
Lots of people will have received DNA tests as gifts over the holidays. This pleases me to no end, because I know I’ll match any number of them and maybe, just maybe, those matches will help me fill in...
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2018 – The Year of the Segment
Looking in the rear view mirror, what a year! Some days it’s been hard to catch your breath things have been moving so fast. What were the major happenings, how did they affect genetic genealogy and...
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Mitochondrial DNA Bulldozes Brick Wall
I’m doing that happy dance today – leaping for joy – and am I EVER glad I’ve sponsored so many mitochondrial DNA tests. Today, I’m incredibly thankful for one particular DNA test. Think mitochondrial...
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Caution: Invisible Fathers and Autosomal Matching – Who’s Hiding in Your DNA?
Using autosomal DNA matching alone, NPEs (nonparental events,) also known as misattributed paternity or parentage (MPEs,) undocumented adoptions, and sometimes other terms, often goes completely...
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23andMe Step by Step Guide: How to Upload-Download DNA Files
In this Upload-Download series, we’ll cover each major vendor: How to download raw data files from the vendor How to upload raw data files to the vendor, if possible Other mainstream vendors where you...
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Things That Need To Be Said: Victims, Murder, and Judgement
Unfortunately, the events that have unfolded during the last few months relative to using genetic genealogy data bases in order to identify murder victims and perpetrators of those murders have...
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Family Tree DNA Sale Prices Including Big Y-700 Upgrade
I was attempting to finish an article about the Family Tree DNA conference this past weekend and include special conference sale price information, but it looks like that article just isn’t going to...
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Full or Half Siblings?
Many people are receiving unexpected sibling matches. Everyday on social media, “surprises” are being reported so often that they are no longer surprising – unless of course you’re the people directly...
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DNA Testing and Transfers – What’s Your Strategy?
The landscape of genetic genealogy is forever morphing. I’m providing a quick update as to which vendors support file transfers from which other vendors in a handy matrix. Come join in the fun! Testing...
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Mitochondrial DNA: Part 1 – Overview
This is Part 1 of a series about mitochondrial DNA, abbreviated as mtDNA, and how to use it successfully for genealogy. What is Mitochondrial DNA and Why Do I Care? Mitochondrial DNA is different from...
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Mitochondrial DNA: Part 2 – What Do Those Numbers Mean?
This is the second part in a series about mitochondrial DNA. The first article can be found here: Mitochondrial DNA: Part 1 – Overview When people receive their results, generally the first thing they...
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DNA Day Sale at Family Tree DNA
Every year we look forward to Family Tree DNA’s DNA Day sale which starts today and ends April 25th. This year, virtually everything is on sale – single tests, bundles of different tests, upgrades and...
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Thirteen Good Reasons to Test Your Mitochondrial DNA
Your mitochondrial DNA is a treasure trove of information for one specific line of your genealogy – providing refined information that autosomal tests simply can’t provide. Some people say...
View ArticleDNA Day Prices and Vendors’ Best Features
DNA Day always produces great sales at the DNA testing companies. Here’s a breakdown of the prices available this week and the best autosomal feature of each vendor. Company Regular Price Sale Price...
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GedMatch Implements Required Opt-In for Law Enforcement Matching
GedMatch has provided an autosomal suite of tools for genealogists that isn’t offered elsewhere for several years now. Their basic service is free but their advanced tools, known at Tier 1, are...
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Genographic Project Prepares to Shut Down Consumer Data Base
Today, on the National Geographic Society’s Genographic Project page, we find this announcement: This is a sad day indeed. Effective May 31, 2019, you can no longer purchase Genographic kits. If you...
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Mitochondrial DNA: Part 3 – Haplogroups Unraveled
This is the third article in a series about mitochondrial DNA. The first two articles are: Mitochondrial DNA: Part 1 – Overview Mitochondrial DNA: Part 2 – What Do Those Numbers Mean? This third...
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DNA Testing the Recently Deceased
No one really want to think about this, but it happens. You’ve always meant to DNA test someone, and they’ve agreed, but either you didn’t order the kit, or the kit is far away from where they passed...
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Identifying Unknown Parents and Individuals Using DNA Matching
There have been a lot of questions recently about the methodology used by people searching for unknown parents and other unidentified individuals. I covered this technique in concept recently at a...
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