DNA Day at the FamilySearch Library

Welcome to DNA Day!

National DNA Day is Tuesday, April 25, 2024. Come celebrate with the FamilySearch Library and RootsTech. The Library, in partnership with RootsTech, is sponsoring seven DNA related classes. Library classes will be taught via Zoom and broadcast live to RootsTech, Facebook and YouTube. Recordings of the classes will be available on RootsTech following the event.

DNA Day at the FamilySearch Library

Wondering about the hype surrounding DNA? Come learn about DNA, find out if taking a DNA test is right for you, which tests you can take, and how it might help you in your family history. Looking for more great family history content? Check out the upcoming classes and webinars presented by the FamilySearch Library.

Schedule

Date	Topic	Class Title	Language	Handout	Link to Webinar	Presenter
Thurs, April 25 9:00 AM MDT	DNA Day	Using DNA to Find the Unknown Father in Sweden	English	Link	Link to Register	Geoffrey Fröberg Morris, AG®
Thurs, April 25 10:00 AM MDT	DNA Day	DNA Basics: An Introduction to DNA and Genealogy	English	Link	Link to Register	Beth Taylor, CG®
Thurs, April 25 11:15 AM MDT	DNA Day	How to Build Quick Trees	English	Link	Link to Register	Jalyse Ortiz
Thurs, April 25 12:30 PM MDT	DNA Day	Heaps of Clues: Navigating DNA to Uncover Your Mystery Match	English	n/a	Link to Register	Savannah Larson, AG®
Thurs, April 25 1:30 PM MDT	DNA Day	Using DNA to Determine Relationships	English	Link	Link to Register	Beth Taylor, CG®
Thurs, April 25 2:45 PM MDT	DNA Day	DNA Genome Reconstruction	English	Link	Link to Register	Tanner Blair Tolman, AG®
Thurs, April 25 3:30 PM MDT	DNA Day	Why Oh Why Do Your Y-DNA?	English	Link	Link to Register	Tanner Blair Tolman, AG®

DNA Companies and Resources

• DNA testing companies:
  • FamilyTreeDNA
  • 23andMe
  • AncestryDNA
  • MyHeritage
  • LivingDNA
• Other Resources:
  • Shared cM Project
  • What Are the Odds
  • GeneticAffairs
  • GedMatch
  • DNAGedcom
• Learn more:
  • FamilySearch.org - https://www.familysearch.org/dna-testing
  • FamilySearch Research Wiki - DNA in Genealogy Research.
  • RootsTech 2023 DNA Classes - RootsTech page for DNA Day.
  • International Society of Genetic Genealogy's Wiki - https://isogg.org/wiki/Wiki_Welcome_Page
• DNA Books:
  • The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy - find a local copy at worldcat.org/title/1048445592
  • Genetic Genealogy in Practice - find a local copy at worldcat.org/title/959825550
  • Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies - worldcat.org/title/1096435190
• Clustering:
  • AncestryDNA Color Coding
  • MyHeritage Color Coding
  • GeneticAffairs
  • Leeds Method: check out https://www.danaleeds.com/the-leeds-method or https://www.yourdnaguide.com/leeds-method
  • Click all checkboxes: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/click-all-checkboxes/fhlogpdbadmjfpndmaijnibflgnbnhof?hl=en-US
• DNA test family artifacts at https://www.totheletterdna.com/
• Hiring a DNA Testing Company

2023 DNA Day Questions and Answers

Q: Are these classes being recorded? Can I watch them again?

A: Yes! These classes will be available on the FamilySearch Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/familysearchlibrary/videos/) and RootsTech.org (https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/events/dna-day-2023)

Q: How do I get 1/1 help with my DNA research goal?

A: Sign up for a 40-minute DNA virtual consultation at www.familysearch.org/en/library/research-help. If all the time slots are currently full, check back. Appointments are available two weeks in advance.

Q: What DNA test should I start with?

A: Start with a DNA test that best matches your research project and goal. YourDNAGuide as a great overview of the options at https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/best-dna-tests-ancestry.

Q: How can I locate DNA Projects for surnames or haplogroups?

A: Search FamilyTreeDNA’s list of projects at https://www.familytreedna.com/group-project-search. You can also view a list of some surname projects at https://isogg.org/wiki/Surname_DNA_projects.

Q: What is Neanderthal DNA?

A: Learn more at https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/212873707-Neanderthal-Ancestry-Report-Basics and https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/genetics/ancient-dna-and-neanderthals

Q: What is the difference between XDNA and Mitochondrial DNA?

A: XDNA is part of the nuclear DNA and is inherited from both parents (if you are biologically female) and from your mother (if you are biologically male). Mitochondrial DNA is found in the mitochondria (outside the cell’s nucleus) and is inherited from your mother. Learn more about XDNA at https://isogg.org/wiki/X-chromosome. Learn more about mitochondrial DNA at https://isogg.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_DNA.

Q: As a woman, how can yDNA testing help me with my genealogy research?

A: Check out this blog article from FamilyTreeDNA. https://blog.familytreedna.com/y-dna-testing-its-not-just-for-men/

Q: What are haplogroups?

A: A haplogroup is a group of single chromosomes, or single DNA strands, which share a common ancestor. They have the same mutation in all versions. Learn more at https://isogg.org/wiki/Haplogroup.

Q: How can I transfer my DNA to other websites?

A: Your raw DNA can be downloaded from the DNA company you tested with and uploaded to MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, and Living DNA. Learn more how to transfer your results at https://thednageek.com/how-to-transfer-your-ancestrydna-test-to-other-databases/ and https://www.yourdnaguide.com/transferring.

Q: What are DNA Mutations and how do they occur?

A: FamilyTreeDNA has a great explanation of DNA that includes information about mutations. https://www.familytreedna.com/understanding-dna.aspx

Q: Why don’t I have yDNA matches?

A: Check out some commonly answered questions about yDNA from FamilyTreeDNA including an answer to that question at https://help.familytreedna.com/hc/en-us/articles/4402954677519-Y-DNA-Matches-Frequently-Asked-Questions.

Q: Is there a way to check all the boxes on Ancestry when clustering?

A: Try out this Chrome Extensions. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/click-all-checkboxes/fhlogpdbadmjfpndmaijnibflgnbnhof?hl=en-US

Q: Where do I learn more about Ancestry’s color coding system?

A: Check out this article at https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ancestrydna-dot-system.

Q: What are endogamy and pedigree collapse and how do they impact clustering?

A: Learn more about endogamy at https://isogg.org/wiki/Endogamy. Learn more about pedigree collapse at https://isogg.org/wiki/Pedigree_collapse. Learn more about the difference at https://dna-explained.com/2021/07/23/whats-the-difference-between-pedigree-collapse-and-endogamy/. DNAExplained has a number of articles that explain endogamy including https://dna-explained.com/2022/08/11/dna-in-search-ofsigns-of-endogamy/

Past DNA Day Celebrations

The FamilySearch Library first celebrated DNA Day on April 25, 2019. Classes taught included:

• DNA: An Introduction to Genetic Genealogy (Recording Handout)
• DNA: I've Tested, Now What? (Recording | Handout)
• Finding an Unknown Parent Using DNA: A Case Study (Handout)
• Making DNA Connections through Descendancy Research (Recording | Handout)

Class taught during DNA Day in 2021 included:

• Why Genealogists Use DNA (Recording)
• How Genealogists Use DNA (Recording)
• Grouping DNA Matches (Recording)
• Using DNA to Determine Relationships (Recording)
• Using DNA to Find Unknown Parents: A Case Study (Recording)
• Using DNA to Solve a Brick Wall: A Case Study (Recording)

Classes taught in 2022 included:

• DNA Basics: An Introduction to DNA and Genealogy (Recording | Handout)
• Grouping DNA Matches (Recording | Handout)
• Using DNA to Determine Relationships (Recording | Handout)
• Quick and Dirty Trees: Crowdsourcing Your DNA Connections (Recording | Handout)
• Visual Phasing and Reconstruction (Recording | Handout)
• Immigration Research and DNA: A Case Study (Recording | Handout)
• Using DNA to Find an Unknown Grandparent: A Case Study (Recording)

A family history conference hosted by FamilySearch. For online genealogical classes and videos see RootsTech.org.