The DNA Interest Group is a special interest group of NSDCGS designed to educate and inform people about the use of DNA testing for genealogical purposes through lectures on DNA followed by small group breakout discussions and individualized help with DNA results. Open to all levels of computer/genealogy experience.
- 3rd Saturday of the month (except December)
- In-person: Georgina Cole Library Community Room
- Doors open at 12:30 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom – Links listed below
- Presentation: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Most meetings will be hybrid (in-person and virtual)
- Presentation recordings are available to current NSDCGS members
Upcoming Speakers and Topics
MARCH 16, 2024 – HYBRID
Unlocking the Power of DNA Projects for Your Research
presented by Rachel Unkefer
Speaker will present remotely.
Virtual Attendees – Register HERE
Genetic Genealogy is a team sport — it’s impossible to decipher your results without comparing them to others. One powerful way to join your data with others is to join DNA projects at FamilyTree DNA. Projects allow you to view your genetic heritage in multiple contexts and uncover a richer story than you would be able to construct on your own.
Rachel Unkefer has been a DNA project administrator since 2009 and is currently a co-administrator of three surname projects, five haplogroup projects, and two geographic projects at FamilyTree DNA. A genealogist since 1984, she has presented at numerous genealogical conferences in the U.S. and internationally, as well as published several articles about genetic genealogy.
Next Topic:
APRIL 20 – HYBRID
What’s in a Picture: Visualizing DNA and Family Relationships
presented by Kathleen Fernandes.
Virtual Attendees – Registration link coming soon
Past Topics
- Using AncestryDNA Today presented by Drew Smith
- Understanding the Ethnic Ancestry In Your DNA Test presented by Richard Hill
- Endogamy Explained presented by Kathleen Fernandes
- Unknown Parentage presented by Kitty Cooper
- The Human Genome Project presented by Kelli Bergheimer
- Centi What??, Morgan Who?? Working with your DNA Results presented by Beth Swartz
- Let’s Meet DNA Painter presented by Sara Cochran
- The Priest and the Choir Girl Revisited: Searching for Family in an Endogamous Population presented by Kathleen Fernandes, Ph.D.
- My Experience with Y-DNA Testing for Family Research – What It CAN and CANNOT do presented by Donald Walker Quigley, Ph.D., P.E.
- Untangling the X presented by Lois Abromitis Mackin, Ph.D.
- The Second Middle Passage: Following the DNA Trails presented by Melvin J. Collier
- Using DNA Tools on GEDMatch presented by Andy Lee of Family History Fanatics
- Using Ethnicity Estimates and Locality Research To Shed Light on a DNA Project presented by Diana Elder, AG®️ of Family Locket
- Two Case Studies from the Desk of a DNA Detective presented by CeCe Moore
- Advanced DNA Features on MyHeritage presented by Daniel Horowitz, Chief Genealogist at MyHeritage
- Combining DNA & Traditional Research: Scottish Case Studies presented by Michelle Leonard
- Investigative Genetic Genealogy Case Study presented by Carol Rolnick
- I Received My DNA Test Results – Now What? presented by Thomas MacEntee
- Shared Matching Methodology presented by Kathleen Fernandes
- Covering Your Bases: Introduction to Autosomal DNA Coverage presented by Paul Woodbury
- Practical Genetic Genealogy & Endogamy: Making Sense of Your DNA Matches When They Don’t Really Make Sense presented by Dr. Adina Newman
- Applied DNA: Solve Real Research Problems presented by Gail Shaffer Blankenau
- Analyzing your DNA matches using Genetic Affairs presented by Evert-Jan Blom, Creator of Genetic Affairs
- Finding Isaac Rogers presented by Nicka Smith
- ThruLines™ and Other AncestryDNA™ Tools presented by Crista Cowan, Corporate Genealogist for href=”http://www.ancestry.com” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Ancestry.com ®️
- Who Are You, John Robinson? Using DNA to Confirm the Identity of a Mysterious Alaskan Stowaway presented by Carol Rolnick
- Making YDNA and mtDNA Part of Your Family History presented by Diahan Southard
- Unraveling the Twisted Case of Angie Dodge presented by CeCe Moore
- Introduction to DNA Painter presented by Sara Cochran
- Inside Investigative Forensic Genealogy Case Studies presented by Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD
- From an Easy Solve to When the DNA Gets Tricky presented by Michelle Trostler
- Who, What, Why, Where, and How: DNA for Family History Research presented by Colleen Robledo Greene
- Endogamy Explained presented by Kathleen Fernandes, Ph.D.
- New Tools for DNA Cousin Matching presented by Kitty Cooper
- Case Studies in Gray: Identifying Shared Ancestries Through DNA and Genealogy – Recorded Webinar from Legacy Family Tree Webinars presented by Nicka Smith
- Beginning mtDNA and Y-DNA presented by Cheri Mello
- When Your DNA Doesn’t Match Your Paper Trail: A Case Study presented by Linda Serna
- Clusters Here, Clusters There, Clusters Everywhere! presented by Megan Lee
- Reconstructing Your Genetic Family Tree webinar presented by Blaine Bettinger
- Family Tree DNA presented by Kathleen Fernandes
- My DNA Brought Me to the Forest, But Where are the Trees? presented by Sara Cochran
- Using DNA for Lineage Society Application presented by Katherine Borges
- >Overview and Workgroups – presented in conjunction with >Carlsbad Reads Together
- GEDMatch Genesis presented by Kitty Munson Cooper
- >”Switched at Birth or Adopted: A DNA Mystery” and “Intro to the New DNA Painter Tool: What Are The Odds” presented by Carol Rolnick
Past Topics
- Using AncestryDNA Today presented by Drew Smith
- Understanding the Ethnic Ancestry In Your DNA Test presented by Richard Hill
- Endogamy Explained presented by Kathleen Fernandes
- Unknown Parentage presented by Kitty Cooper
- The Human Genome Project presented by Kelli Bergheimer
- Centi What??, Morgan Who?? Working with your DNA Results presented by Beth Swartz
- Let’s Meet DNA Painter presented by Sara Cochran
- The Priest and the Choir Girl Revisited: Searching for Family in an Endogamous Population presented by Kathleen Fernandes, Ph.D.
- My Experience with Y-DNA Testing for Family Research – What It CAN and CANNOT do presented by Donald Walker Quigley, Ph.D., P.E.
- Untangling the X presented by Lois Abromitis Mackin, Ph.D.
- The Second Middle Passage: Following the DNA Trails presented by Melvin J. Collier
- Using DNA Tools on GEDMatch presented by Andy Lee of Family History Fanatics
- Using Ethnicity Estimates and Locality Research To Shed Light on a DNA Project presented by Diana Elder, AG®️ of Family Locket
- Two Case Studies from the Desk of a DNA Detective presented by CeCe Moore
- Advanced DNA Features on MyHeritage presented by Daniel Horowitz, Chief Genealogist at MyHeritage
- Combining DNA & Traditional Research: Scottish Case Studies presented by Michelle Leonard
- Investigative Genetic Genealogy Case Study presented by Carol Rolnick
- I Received My DNA Test Results – Now What? presented by Thomas MacEntee
- Shared Matching Methodology presented by Kathleen Fernandes
- Covering Your Bases: Introduction to Autosomal DNA Coverage presented by Paul Woodbury
- Practical Genetic Genealogy & Endogamy: Making Sense of Your DNA Matches When They Don’t Really Make Sense presented by Dr. Adina Newman
- Applied DNA: Solve Real Research Problems presented by Gail Shaffer Blankenau
- Analyzing your DNA matches using Genetic Affairs presented by Evert-Jan Blom, Creator of Genetic Affairs
- Finding Isaac Rogers presented by Nicka Smith
- ThruLines™ and Other AncestryDNA™ Tools presented by Crista Cowan, Corporate Genealogist for Ancestry.com®️
- Who Are You, John Robinson? Using DNA to Confirm the Identity of a Mysterious Alaskan Stowaway presented by Carol Rolnick
- Making YDNA and mtDNA Part of Your Family History presented by Diahan Southard
- Unraveling the Twisted Case of Angie Dodge presented by CeCe Moore
- Introduction to DNA Painter presented by Sara Cochran
- Inside Investigative Forensic Genealogy Case Studies presented by Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD
- From an Easy Solve to When the DNA Gets Tricky presented by Michelle Trostler
- Who, What, Why, Where, and How: DNA for Family History Research presented by Colleen Robledo Greene
- Endogamy Explained presented by Kathleen Fernandes, Ph.D.
- New Tools for DNA Cousin Matching presented by Kitty Cooper
- Case Studies in Gray: Identifying Shared Ancestries Through DNA and Genealogy – Recorded Webinar from Legacy Family Tree Webinars presented by Nicka Smith
- Beginning mtDNA and Y-DNA presented by Cheri Mello
- When Your DNA Doesn’t Match Your Paper Trail: A Case Study presented by Linda Serna
- Clusters Here, Clusters There, Clusters Everywhere! presented by Megan Lee
- Reconstructing Your Genetic Family Tree webinar presented by Blaine Bettinger
- Family Tree DNA presented by Kathleen Fernandes
- My DNA Brought Me to the Forest, But Where are the Trees? presented by Sara Cochran
- Using DNA for Lineage Society Application presented by Katherine Borges
- Overview and Workgroups – presented in conjunction with Carlsbad Reads Together
- GEDMatch Genesis presented by Kitty Munson Cooper
- “Switched at Birth or Adopted: A DNA Mystery” and “Intro to the New DNA Painter Tool: What Are The Odds” presented by Carol Rolnick