5 Genetic Genealogy Resources for Beginners
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There’s no denying that DNA is an essential part of the 21st-century genealogist’s toolkit. In fact, the Board for Certification of Genealogists has not only said that we must “at least consider genetic genealogy as part of our reasonably exhaustive research,” but they have included standards to address it.
But where can a genealogist – especially one who is just beginning the genealogy journey – learn how to use DNA in her research?
We all have to start somewhere, right? So, here are 5 of my favorite genetic genealogy resources to help you get started.
1. Books About Genetic Genealogy
The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy
By Blaine T. Bettinger
Description: Discover the answers to your family history mysteries using the most cutting-edge tool available. This plain English guide (newly updated and expanded to include the latest DNA developments) will teach you what DNA tests are available; the pros and cons of the major testing companies; and how to choose the right test to answer your specific genealogy questions. And once you’ve taken a DNA test, this guide will help you use your often-overwhelming results, with tips for understanding ethnicity estimates, navigating suggested cousin matches, and using third-party tools like GEDmatch to further analyze your data. Get this book.
DNA Q and A: Real Questions from Real People about Genetic Genealogy
By Andrew Lee and Devon Noel Lee
Description: Genetic genealogy generates compelling questions as people around the world attempt to understand haplogroups, ethnicity, and genetic matches. DNA Q&A has curated actual questions from real people who’ve sought to better understand DNA via the Family History Fanatics YouTube channel, eConferences, and live presentations. Is your question, or something similar, in the book? Find out the answer to it and more! Get this book.
Genetic Genealogy in Practice
Blaine T. Bettinger and Debbie Parker Wayne
By Blaine T. Bettinger and Debbie Parker Wayne
Description: Genetic Genealogy in Practice, the first workbook on genetic genealogy, the book provides family historians and genealogists who have just begun to explore genetic genealogy practical, easy-to-understand information that they can apply to their research. Readers learn the basic concepts of genetic genealogy. They then build on that knowledge as they study the testing, analysis, and application of Y-DNA, X-DNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and autosomal DNA (atDNA) to reach and support genealogical conclusions. Each chapter includes exercises with answer keys for hands-on practice. Get this book.
NextGen Genealogy: The DNA Connection
By David Dowell
Description: DNA testing can serve as a powerful tool that unlocks the hidden information within our bodies for family history research. This book explains how genetic genealogy works and answers the questions of genealogists and individuals seeking information on their family trees. This is an older book (published in 2014), but still very relevant today. Read my review of this book. Get this book.
Your DNA Guide – the Book
By Diahan Southard
Description: You don’t have to learn everything about genetic genealogy before asking (and answering!) specific DNA questions. That’s the premise of Your DNA Guide -the Book, a unique new approach to learning genetic genealogy. Instead of learning more than you need to know in textbook style, you’ll choose a specific DNA question and start exploring it right away. Follow concrete step-by-step plans, learning important DNA concepts–in plain English—as you go. As you proceed, you will check your progress and be guided based on your specific results at each stage.
This powerful, hands-on approach is based on the author’s 20 years of experience in the genetic genealogy industry, including five years of one-on-one client mentoring. Your DNA Guide -the Book is for anyone who has taken a DNA test or may want to. It helps genealogists reconstruct family trees. It helps adoptees identify biological relatives. It can help you identify a specific DNA match. In short, it helps anyone explore what their DNA—and their DNA matches—can tell them about their family. Get this book.
2. Webinars
Legacy Family Tree Webinars
Developing a DNA Testing Plan: a Guide for Beginners by Debra Renard
Description: You might already create research plans for major projects or repository visits. Plans are also valuable when applying DNA testing to your family history research. This talk answers questions such as: What is DNA and why should I test it? Which test should I use? Where should I get my test? Who else should I test? Don’t hesitate any longer to add this invaluable tool to your genealogy toolbox!
Foundations in DNA by Blaine T. Bettinger, 5-part series
Part 1 – Genealogy and DNA
Part 2 – DNA Overview
Part 3 – Y-DNA
Part 4 – Mitochondrial DNA
Part 5 – Autosomal DNA
Check out the complete list of DNA webinars at Legacy Family Tree Webinars (includes prerecorded and upcoming live webinars). There are currently more than 170 webinars about DNA available to watch!
Ancestry Academy
Ancestry Academy is a free instruction resource from the folks at Ancestry.com. There are 40 videos about DNA for your viewing pleasure, ranging from 30 seconds up to an hour in length.
Virtual Genealogical Association
Your Slice of the DNA Pie by Diahan Southard
Description: Can I find out if I have Native American or African heritage by taking a DNA test? Why does my test say I have an ancestral origin that is not present in my pedigree chart? Why are places I know are in my family history missing from my chart? Why do I have different results than my siblings? How accurate are the results? Do small percentages matter? This presentation with Diahan Southard provides the answers to these questions and more! Note: You must be a VGA member to access the webinars.
Vivid-Pix Video-On-Demand Classes
These previously recorded classes are only $1.99 to stream for 30 days.
- 3 Tips For Your DNA Test by Diahan Southard
- Genetic Genealogy by Blaine Bettinger
3. YouTube
23andMe
Description: 23andMe is named after the 23 pairs of chromosomes in your DNA. We are a web-based service that helps you understand what your DNA says about your health, traits, and ancestry. After providing a saliva sample using an at-home kit, you can learn how your genetics may influence your health, discover where your DNA is from out of 31 populations worldwide – and more. Learn what makes you uniquely you with 23andMe!
Ancestry (no dedicated DNA playlist)
Description: Bringing together science and self-discovery, Ancestry helps everyone, everywhere discover the story of what led to them. Our sophisticated engineering and technology harness family history and consumer genomics, combining billions of rich historical records and millions of family trees to over 10 million and counting, to provide people with deeply meaningful insights about who they are and where they come from.
Blaine Bettinger
No channel description is provided; however, Blaine is well-known as one of the leading genetic genealogists. Anything he posts is worth watching!
Family History Fanatics
Description: Teaching you how to climb your family tree while having fun along the way. Featuring videos about beginning genealogy, DNA tests and ethnicity results, RootsTech and other genealogy conferences, preservation, and sharing family history.
Family Tree DNA
Description: Family Tree DNA is the world leader in Y chromosome, autosomal, and mitochondrial ancestry DNA testing for genetic genealogists. Learn how our tests can help you.
Living DNA
Description: Living DNA is a collaboration of over 100 world-leading scientists, academic researchers, and genetic experts from across the globe with the purpose of bringing cutting-edge DNA technology to the world.
MyHeritage
Description: MyHeritage is the leading global discovery platform for exploring family history, uncovering ethnic origins, finding new relatives, and gaining valuable health insights. With sophisticated matching technologies and billions of international historical records, MyHeritage empowers users to build their family trees and make exciting family connections. As the world’s only integrated service that combines family history and DNA testing for genealogy and health, MyHeritage is uniquely positioned to offer users a meaningful discovery experience that unites their past, present, and future.
4. Websites & Blogs
- International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) Beginner’s Guides to Genetic Genealogy – You won’t find a more comprehensive list of resources than this one!
- Family Tree DNA’s Beginner’s Guide – Resources are broken into different DNA categories.
- Beginner’s Guide to Genetic Genealogy – A series of 19 easy-to-understand, self-guided lessons. Although written several years ago, much has changed, but the fundamentals are still the same.
- DNA-Central ($ membership site) – An exclusive collection of online courses designed to help you understand DNA testing and interpret your test results.
- Cyndi’s List of DNA, Genetics & Family Health Resources
- Cyndi’s List of DNA, Genetics & Family Health blogs
- ISOGG’s list of genetic genealogy blogs
5. Facebook Groups
Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques
Description: Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques is a place to discuss topics in DNA ranging from beginner to advanced.
DNA Newbie
Description: This is a Facebook group for those wishing to learn how DNA testing can help with genealogical research. Discussion topics & queries must be relevant to genealogical uses of DNA testing. Medical uses of DNA testing are off-topic for this group.
Wrap Up
What are your favorite resources for learning about genetic genealogy? Do you have any tips you can share to help beginners?
Please share in the comments!
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This is a great Post and exactly what I need. I’m very much at beginner standard for DNA. I’ve registered for the Legacy DNA webinar. Will also check out your suggestions #geneabloggers Sharing
Thanks, Jennifer! Glad you found the post to be helpful!
Thank you Elizabeth for providing such a wealth of information….?
You’re quite welcome, Ancestor Detective!
Wow, you’ve done a lot of work vetting all the resources out there. I’ll definitely bookmark this post.
Glad you found it helpful, Laura! 😀
When I was first figuring this out I watched numerous webinars, often more than once, and Roberta Estes blog, DNAeXplained, was invaluable. To keep up-to-date, I’m attending the GGI conferences this year – one last weekend in Belfast, and a second later this year in Dublin.
Roberta’s blog is amazing, isn’t it, Dara?! She’s helped me a lot, too. The GGI conferences sound awesome! I’d love to hear more about them. 🙂
Another excellent blog about genealogy resources — one that will surely be appreciated by DNA beginners.
Thank you, Molly!