| PLEASE NOTE: There is a lot of interest in DNA and Forensic topics. Please read carefully before registering to take one of these courses. The DNA and Forensic courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies provide instruction on DNA methods as used in genealogical research. We recommend that students without the basic knowledge of genealogy methods and genealogical research should register in the Methodology - Part 1: Getting Started and Methodology Part 2 - Organizing and Skill-Building courses prior to registering for this course.
Genetic genealogy is quickly becoming a handy tool in the savvy genealogists tool box. As a savvy genealogist you need to be aware of many things before you can wield it properly. There are ethical concerns at the foremost besides the scientific understanding. What test should you use when and why is the largest consideration. Not everything can be treated as a nail so understanding the field of genetic genealogy is the key to successfully choosing which tool is best.
There are three tests you can take for genetic genealogy. The most common is autosomal, that now includes X-Chromosome analysis. Next comes the test for paternal lineage (yDNA) and the test for maternal lineage (mtDNA). It is important to make sure you know which test you want to take and what that test can tell you before you proceed in testing.
Autosomal or Admixture DNA (atDNA) is the most frequently taken genetic genealogy test on the market. With one test you can learn about your paternal and maternal families as well as your combined ethnic origins. While amazing, there are a few caveats to this.
Mainly, it only tells you about the DNA that was passed down to you, which, with the way inheritance works in genetics, is less and less material each generation. This also applies to your ethnic background. You may know, on paper, your 2nd great-grandmother was German. Genetically however, you may be hard pressed to any trace of her large enough to show up through testing.
Through this course we are going to examine what atDNA is, how it is passed down to you, and what a genetic genealogy test will tell you. You will discover that atDNA is a wonderful tool for unlocking your hidden past when combined with traditional paper genealogy.
Course Content
Module 1
Introduction to DNA Testing
What is atDNA?
Who can test?
Why should you test?
What to do while waiting for your test to come back
Taking the Test
Module 2
Basic Genetics
Why you are you
Who do you take after?
Its all a numbers game
Module 3
Dealing with People
Ethics and genetic genealogy
Investment = Success
Ways to communicate with your potential relatives
Information to include in correspondence
Module 4
Understanding the Raw Data
What is a Match?
Quantifying relatedness
Organizing Your Data
Creating a Spreadsheet
Testing Information
Managing Your Matches
Keeping Track of Your Segments
Testing Companies
AncestryDNA
DNA Matches
DNA Circles
New Ancestor Discoveries
Ancestry.com Genetic Communities
23andMe
Family and Friends: DNA Relatives
DNA Relatives
Ancestry Tools: Family Inheritance Advanced
FamilyTreeDNA
Matches
Chromosome Browser
Matrix
MyHeritage DNA
Living DNA
Module 5
Analysis Tools
Third Party Tools for Analysis
GEDMatch
Phasing
Triangulation
Module 6
X-Chromosome Analysis
X Inheritance
Ethnicity and atDNA
Importance of Reference Populations
Genetic vs. Genealogical Trees
How companies compare
Ethnicity calculations and GEDMatch
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