Glossary – Terminal SNP

What is a Terminal SNP? It sounds fatal doesn’t it, but don’t worry, it’s not. The phrase Terminal SNP is generally used in conjunction with discussing Y DNA testing and haplogroup identification. SNPs Define Haplogroups In a nutshell, SNPs, single … Continue reading

Glossary – DNA – Deoxyribonucleic Acid

What is DNA and why do I care? Good questions. Let’s take a look at the answer in general, then why we use DNA for genealogy. The Recipe for You DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, is the book of life for all organisms. In essence, it’s … Continue reading

Comparing DNA Results – Different Tests at the Same Testing Company

Several people have asked about different tests at the same DNA testing company. They wondered if matching is affected, meaning whether your matches are different if you have two different tests at the same company. Specifically, they asked if you … Continue reading

DNA: In Search of…Signs of Endogamy

This is the fourth in our series of articles about searching for unknown close family members, specifically; parents, grandparents, or siblings. However, these same techniques can be applied by genealogists to ancestors further back in time as well. I introduced … Continue reading

DNA for Native American Genealogy – Hot Off the Press!

Drum roll please…my new book, DNA for Native American Genealogy, was just released today, published by Genealogical.com. I’m so excited! I expected publication around the holidays. What a pleasant surprise. This 190-page book has been a labor of love, almost a … Continue reading

Acadian Refugee Households at Camp d’Esperance 1756-1761 – 52 Ancestors #338

Anyone with Acadian ancestors knows that the Acadian families were forcibly deported from Nova Scotia beginning in 1755 by the English military in retaliation for refusing to sign a loyalty oath to the British king. This event was known as … Continue reading

Haplogroup Matching: What It Does (and Doesn’t) Mean

“Our haplogroups (sort of) match, so that means we’re related, right?” Well, maybe. It depends. Great Question This is an oft-asked great question. Of course, the answer varies depending on the context of the question and what is meant by … Continue reading

Y DNA Resources and Repository

I’ve created a Y DNA resource page with the information in this article, here, as a permanent location where you can find Y DNA information in one place – including: Step-by-step guides about how to utilize Y DNA for your … Continue reading

Y DNA Resources

Welcome to the Y DNA resource page where you’ll find everything you need to know in one place – including: Step-by-step guides about how to utilize Y DNA for your genealogy Educational articles and links to the latest webinars Articles … Continue reading

Deleting DNA Results or Closing Your Account Does NOT Automatically = Destroying Your Original DNA Sample

First and foremost, I want to state unequivocally that I am NOT advocating closing your account at any of the testing vendor sites. That’s not the purpose of this article. In fact, I encourage everyone to use each tool to … Continue reading