DNA for Genealogy and Family History-August 29, 2017

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www.thefhguide.com

If you have been around the genealogy community for awhile you know that DNA testing has been getting center stage for a few years. Lots of people beyond our community have been having their DNA tested too discover their ethnicity. It has become quite "the thing to do" and most people don't have any idea what to do with their results beyond seeing where their ancestors came from in a very general way.

My mother-in-law had her DNA tested at 90 and was thrilled to discover things she had never dreamed of before. Although she thought she was 100% Italian, she was happy to know she was also Greek with a little Irish mixed in.

DNA was discovered in the early 1950s. I remember studying it in high school in the late 60s and thinking no further than learning how to spell all the words like deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and that it controls the chemical processes within cells. None of us ever dreamed that one day we could learn so much about our heritage with this discovery. Nor did we ever realize that it could connect us with our very close relatives we had never even known about.

So the issue we have now as family historians is learning how that can happen. Once again it is The Family History Guide to the rescue! Go to <www.thefhguide.com> and select Projects from the Home page. Project 8 DNA: Choice: A Introduction. Step 1: Articles for an overview of genetics and genealogy. Step 2: Watch an excellent simplified video of the basics. This video connects to a great blog with even more detailed learning available. In the blog I found some great ideas about reading the results of the DNA testing. There is so much more in this Project 8's content as you will see, if you simply scroll down the page.

I really appreciate that Bob Taylor has already reviewed lots of material and selected such great content and resources for us. Again we find them in chronological order for our benefit & sequential learning. http://thefhguide.com/project-8-dna.html

Please consider sharing any ways that DNA has helped you with your family history and genealogy. I'll include a story and photo in the comments section below.

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The Family History Guide I had a personal experience with this that was life changing. In 2008 I wrote a blog post about my aunt who has just died. It included her obituary, photos, the funeral, cousins' photos, etc. In 2013 a professional researcher, after suggesting her client do DNA testing, was able to find his parents by Google searching his possible surnames from his DNA test. She found my blog post. Because of that I was united with my cousin whom we knew nothing about until 2013. He was adopted as an infant and had spent over 30 years trying to find his birth mother. He got more than he bargained for; both of his birth parents, and five siblings he did not know existed. Because of DNA testing and my blog post this came to be. I'll include a photo below of when I I met him. This is unimaginable joy to see six dear siblings reunited. This is the kind of joy family history can bring.
Meet William, my first cousin and my father's nephew.  The bonus is that William reminds me of three people that have passed away that were very close to me. My dad, his sister and my grandmother.  Actually it was like heaven on earth!