Category: Investigative Genetic Genealogy

A Beginner’s Guide to Genetic Genealogy

Genetic genealogy is an exciting field that combines traditional family history research with DNA testing to uncover ancestral connections. Forensic genealogy applies these techniques to assist in solving crimes and identifying unknown individuals. For beginners, understanding these concepts can open new avenues in exploring family history and contribute to broader societal benefits.

What is Genetic Genealogy?

Genetic genealogy involves analyzing DNA to discover relationships between individuals and construct family trees. By testing specific types of DNA, such as Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and autosomal DNA (atDNA), genealogists can trace lineage lines and identify common ancestors. Y-DNA testing focuses on the direct paternal line, mtDNA on the direct maternal line, and atDNA provides a broader view of one’s ancestry.

How Can Genetic Genealogy Help in Family History Research?

Incorporating DNA testing into your genealogical research can:

  • Break Through Brick Walls: DNA testing can provide evidence to support or refute documented family connections, helping to overcome obstacles in traditional research.
  • Confirm Surname Lineages: Y-DNA testing can verify paternal lineages, confirming whether individuals with the same surname share a common ancestor.
  • Discover Ethnic Origins: Autosomal DNA tests offer insights into your ethnic background, revealing the regions your ancestors may have originated from.

What is Forensic Genealogy?

Forensic genealogy applies genetic genealogy techniques to legal and criminal investigations. By analyzing DNA evidence from crime scenes and comparing it to genetic databases, forensic genealogists can identify suspects or unknown individuals. This method has been instrumental in solving cold cases and identifying remains.

Getting Started with Genetic Genealogy

  1. Define Your Goals: Determine what you hope to achieve with DNA testing, such as confirming family connections or discovering ethnic origins.
  2. Choose the Right Test: Select a DNA test that aligns with your research objectives. For instance, Y-DNA tests are suitable for tracing paternal lines, while autosomal DNA tests provide a comprehensive view of your ancestry.
  3. Select a Testing Company: Research reputable DNA testing companies that offer the services you need. Ensure they have robust privacy policies and provide access to genetic matches.1
  4. Analyze Your Results: Once you receive your DNA results, use the tools provided by the testing company to interpret the data and integrate it into your family tree.

Ethical Considerations

When engaging in genetic and forensic genealogy, it’s essential to consider privacy and consent. Always obtain permission from living relatives before including their DNA information in your research. Be aware of the ethical implications of using genetic data, especially in forensic contexts.

Where to Learn More

To deepen your understanding of genetic and forensic genealogy, consider exploring the following resources (links to these and other resources are below):

  • “The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy” by Blaine T. Bettinger: This comprehensive guide offers detailed information on DNA testing and its application in genealogy.
  • Your DNA Guide: This platform created by Diahan Southard provides educational resources and personalized guidance for individuals interested in genetic genealogy.
  • CeCe Moore’s “DNA Testing for Genealogy – Parts One – Four”: This article offers an introduction to DNA testing for genealogy, making it accessible for beginners.

By integrating genetic and forensic genealogy into your research, you can uncover new facets of your family history and contribute to meaningful discoveries in broader contexts.

BOOKS TO CONSIDER

References (Online Links and Videos)

Moore, CeCe. Series on the Basics of DNA Testing for Genealogy May 18, 2018. Accessed February 11, 2025. http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/p/resources.html.

Genealogical DNA for the Absolute Beginner – James Tanner (20 Aug 2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyg9-FAHENA

Lynch, Jennifer. “Forensic Genetic Genealogy Searches: What Defense Attorneys & Policy Makers Need to Know.” Electronic Frontier Foundation. July 26, 2023. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.eff.org/wp/forensic-genetic-genealogy-searches-what-defense-attorneys-need-know.

Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/comments/z4t3l9/forensic_genealogy/.

Christensen, Erica. “An Introduction to Forensic Genetic Genealogy Technology for Forensic Science Service Providers – Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.” September 13, 2022. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://forensiccoe.org/report-2022-forensic-genetic-genealogy/.

Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/comments/xdfbfc/whats_your_favorite_genetic_genealogy_resource/.

“Research Guides: Genetic Genealogy: DNA and Family History: Introduction.” Research Guides at Library of Congress. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://guides.loc.gov/genetic-genealogy.

“Resources to Get You Started With Genetic Genealogy.” New York Genealogical & Biographical Society. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/blog/resources-get-you-started-genetic-genealogy.

O, “Elizabeth Swanay. “5 Genetic Genealogy Resources for Beginners.” Heart of the Family. February 11, 2020. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.thefamilyheart.com/genetic-genealogy-for-beginners/.

“Just a moment….” Accessed February 11, 2025. https://isogg.org/wiki/Beginners%27_guides_to_genetic_genealogy.

“Forensic Genealogy.” National Genealogical Society. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/forensic-genealogy/.

“Forensic Genetic Genealogy Resource & Historical Information.” Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Forensics/Disciplines/Genetic-Genealogy/Resource-Historical-Information.aspx.

“BEGINNER’s GUIDE to GENETIC GENEALOGY.” Wheaton Wood. August 7, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://wheatonwood.com/introduction-to-genetic-genealogy-dead-people-can-talk-after-all/.

“Online Graduate Certificate in Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG).” University of New Haven. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.newhaven.edu/lee-college/graduate-programs/certificates/forensic-genetic-genealogy/index.php.

“An Introduction to Investigative Genetic Genealogy.” From Crime Scene to Courtroom. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.cfsre.org/education/continuing-professional-education/archival-on-demand-education/an-introduction-to-investigative-genetic-genealogy-from-crime-scene-to-courtroom.

“Basic Genetics: Ancestry Project 7, Goal 1.” Accessed February 11, 2025. https://thefhguide.com/project-7-dna-an.html.

Bennett, Shannon Combs. “How To Get Started With Genetic Genealogy and DNA Research.” October 23, 2012. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://familytreemagazine.com/dna/how-to-get-started-with-genetic-genealogy-and-dna-research/.

  1. “DNA tests – Search results.” Wikipedia. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search=DNA+tests&title=Special:Search&profile=advanced&fulltext=1&ns0=1. ↩︎

Image: ChatGPT

Your DNA’s Hidden Stories: How to Maximize Family Tree Connections

Recently, I’ve been assisting several clients with their DNA matches from the DNA tests they’ve taken. As I wrote here, Ethnicity estimates shouldn’t define your family tree. Since I have either built or helped expand their family trees, we’ve had success connecting many of those matches to their trees. However, it’s frustrating for both my clients and me to encounter the large number of matches that either have no tree linked to their DNA test or only a small tree with just two or three people. This lack of information is not helpful for anyone involved. While some may be primarily interested in ethnicity reports, even they are missing out on the full story. Let me explain.

Why Link Your DNA Results to a Family Tree?

Using Ancestry.com as an example, linking your DNA results to a family tree is essential because it allows you to identify how you are related to your DNA matches. By comparing your genetic information to individuals in your family tree, you can gain valuable insights into your ancestry and discover new family connections through shared ancestors. Essentially, it bridges the gap between your genetic data and your known family history.

When you link your DNA results to a public tree on Ancestry.com, you activate shared ancestor hints, which appear in the ThruLines tool. The larger your linked tree, the better your chances of finding common ancestors. This connection allows you to:

  • Identify who in your tree is a DNA match.
  • See how you’re related to your matches.
  • Keep a record of these connections.
  • Determine which parts of your tree they can help with and which shared relatives they might have stories or information about.

Link Your DNA Results

At Ancestry, you need to link your test to “you” in a tree. If the DNA test belongs to your mother, link it to your mother in your tree. Note that your test can only be linked to one person in one tree at a time. If you decide to disconnect and reconnect to another tree, record everything first, as you will lose your current ThruLines. These will regenerate based on the new tree but may differ depending on the tree’s content and other factors.

To receive green document leaf hints, potential parent hints, and DNA hints such as ThruLines, you need to provide enough information for Ancestry’s system to connect the dots. This includes:

  • Birth and death dates
  • Birth and death locations
  • All spouses, not just the one you descend from
  • Children and their spouses
  • At least one additional generation of descendants

Every generation added gives Ancestry’s software more “info” to use for connecting the dots.

Best Practices for Hints and Trees

Never blindly accept hints or assume their accuracy. Early in my genealogy journey, I trusted information without verification, believing that older generations had everything correct. Today, we have more resources to validate information and acknowledge that errors can occur. In your family tree, the leaves represent document or record hints, not DNA matches. The leaves on your DNA match page indicate a common ancestor identified in the tree of your DNA match.

When reviewing a hint, use the “maybe” button to move it into an Undecided folder if you’re unsure. I try to keep my leaves organized so I can easily identify new hints. While I ignore Ancestry Member Trees as sources (because they are not a source!) in my tree, I use them as research starting points and messaging opportunities.

I also ignore DNA icon picture hints, as these images often represent personal identifiers rather than actual ancestor photos. And they make for useless hints you do receive. I also do not use them in my own trees for that very reason. Instead, use Ancestry’s MyTreeTags to organize your tree. Tags help label people as DNA matches, military veterans, direct ancestors, and more. Tags can be universal (e.g., “DNA” or “Common DNA Ancestor”) or custom (e.g., for unique family history needs).

Understanding ThruLines

ThruLines are calculated for a maximum of seven generations, counting your parents as generation one. (“seven generations” is equivalent to the “5th generation” when counting back through your ancestry.) The three requirements for ThruLines are:

  1. You must have a tree.
  2. Your DNA test must be linked to a person in that tree.
  3. You must have DNA matches to other people with the same ancestor in their tree.

To maximize ThruLines, enter names of spouses and children for eligible generations. Feeding the machine with more data improves results.

Why Sharing Matters

I totally get why some folks might hold back from sharing their family trees; it can feel like you’re “giving away” a piece of your puzzle. But I like to think of it differently! Imagine if my efforts help someone stumble upon a long-lost ancestor’s photo or finally break down that stubborn brick wall in their research. Or what if I inspire someone to dive into Y-DNA or mitochondrial DNA testing? That’s what it’s all about! Collaboration in genetic genealogy can lead to amazing discoveries. Let’s come together and unlock these family stories—who knows what we might find!

Closing Thoughts

Genetic genealogy thrives on collaboration. By linking DNA results to detailed family trees and embracing tools like ThruLines and MyTreeTags, you can unlock powerful insights and connections. Sharing your research and findings enriches not only your own journey but also the broader genealogical community.

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The Secret Weapon in Your Family History Research: Artificial Intelligence

Have you ever thought about how AI might have played a role in your family history research—perhaps without you even noticing? It’s possible that artificial intelligence (AI) has been quietly aiding your family history research all along! It’s fascinating to consider!

AI is revolutionizing the field of genealogy, and you might be surprised by how often you’ve encountered it. For instance, popular platforms like Ancestry.com leverage AI to recommend relevant records (those leafy “hints.”) and unearth potential matches in other family trees. Platforms like 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage use AI to identify potential relatives based on shared DNA.

MyHeritage even offers AI Biographer™, a tool that generates Wikipedia-style biographies of your ancestors using historical records and information from your family tree.

But AI’s contributions extend far beyond these well-known examples. Even if you’re a beginner in genealogy research, several AI tools can become your research companions:

  • Versatility Personified: ChatGPT – This multifaceted AI tackles general genealogy questions and assists you in crafting effective research strategies.
  • Your Genealogical Gemini: Google’s Gemini – Similar to ChatGPT, Gemini offers a helping hand with your genealogical inquiries.
  • The Genealogical Detective, Assistant, and Librarian: Perplexity – Don’t let the name intimidate you! Perplexity is another AI platform that can be your one-stop shop for family history research queries.

These AI tools act as virtual research assistants, prompting you with questions and guiding you through various aspects of genealogy. Additionally, there are AI tools designed specifically for genealogy research:

  • Open GeneaGPT: Your AI Research Assistant – Open GeneaGPT is a tailor-made AI assistant for family history researchers and genealogists.
  • Genealogy Eyes: Unveiling the Stories Hidden in Your Heirlooms – Genealogy Eyes helps you analyze images of documents, headstones, and other genealogical artifacts.

Tips to Kickstart Your AI-Powered Genealogy Journey

  • Embrace the Power of Questions: Begin by using AI platforms to ask basic questions about genealogical research methods.
  • AI-Driven Brainstorming: Let AI help you generate new ideas for uncovering information about your ancestors.
  • Demystifying Genealogy with AI: Don’t hesitate to ask AI to explain unfamiliar genealogical terms or concepts.
  • AI as Your Historical Interpreter: Utilize AI to gain insights into historical documents or understand the context of the time periods you’re researching.

While AI is a powerful tool, it’s crucial to remember that it should complement, not replace, traditional research methods. Always verify the information gleaned from AI with primary sources to ensure the accuracy of your family history.

I hope this revamped blog post, infused with the power of AI, empowers you to delve deeper into your family’s rich tapestry!

Sometimes, It’s the Answers You Don’t Find

Photo by Matt Walsh on Unsplash

Sometimes it is the answers you do not find. A couple of months ago, I received an email from a man in the UK looking for an old friend who he heard had passed away here in America. At first, I didn’t answer thinking it was one of those scams, “You’ve inherited $5000 lbs from Uncle Larry.” In addition, I research family history, not long lost friends. However, he wrote again and his story piqued my interest.

His friend was a psychiatric nurse in the UK and used to travel to America through his work. This friend also changed his surname, maybe by deed poll, from his birth surname to his adopted surname. Tragically he died while in America, his friend heard, by being hit by a train or hit by train shrapnel.

“TH” (alias for the person who contacted me) thought the incident was bizarre and had contacted his friend’s brother, but the brother wouldn’t discuss anything with him, further adding to the mystery. The brother traveled from England to America to take care of the details when he died, but “TH” doesn’t believe the body was brought back to the UK. With only an approximate birth year to go on, I looked through all my resources, newspapers.com, etc., and found no mention of this friend or incident. Without knowing where his friend died, it was fruitless. “TH” continued his research from his end and wrote me again a few weeks later.

“TH” had found out that his friend had died in New Jersey. Thanks to “Reclaim the Records“, he was able to find the death index. That in turn gave him the exact birth and death of his friend. With that information, I found his friend’s birth parents and confirmed that the record pertained to the right person. “TH” was close to the information he provided but forgot that our date formats are different than theirs.

I still could not find a newspaper article on the incident. Curious about the name change, I wrote the National Archives of the United Kingdom to search their deed polls. A “Remote Enquiries Duty Officer” emailed me right back and explained that he could not find a deed poll entry for a name change for “TH’s” friend. The gentleman also explained that “Changes of name by deed poll are only recorded officially if a fee is paid to have the deed enrolled in court – not many people do this and so there is often no official record other than the original deed poll issued to the person themselves.”

With further research, I found he was issued his social security number in Arkansas in 1988, but could find no further records. Next, I wrote the New Jersey State Library and the researcher was very kind. She had access to the Morristown Daily Record from 1995. She tried several different searches to see if she could find an obituary or article about either the train accident or an obituary for him but did not come across anything. Doing a general search for “train accident”, “hit by a train”, or “train” for June 6, 1995, and broadly for June 1995 did not have any results. She also did a general search in NJ Newspapers via NewsBank as well and did not find anything either.

I then heard back from the New Jersey History and Genealogy Center. They too searched different newspapers from 1995 and could find nothing on the friend or any mention of a train accident or similar. Could it be that this isn’t how he died? Unfortunately, because “TH” is not a relative, he cannot obtain a copy of the death certificate.

I built a family tree in my Ancestry account and found their biological parents, but no hits so far.

Now I have two questions, 1) Did he really die by train? 2) Why won’t his brother share the specifics with “TH”?

The hunt continues…

This was out of my realm, but very interesting for me as I love mysteries and researching. Investigative Genetic Genealogy is the popular way to solve crimes now due to DNA, and it is very intriguing. However, not only can it be used to solve crimes, but I believe it can solve family history mysteries and help adopted parents or children, etc.

But for able to get into this part of genealogy, I need more practice in the genetic part and Reverse Genealogy. I hope to broaden my research skills and do just that!

Wish me luck!

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