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 – Registration link 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 21, 2026
Shared DNA at a glance: the new DNA matrix tool presented by Jonny Perl
The webinar recording will be presented at the library
Presentation will not be recorded due to copyright restrictions
Virtual attendees – Register HERE
In a dynamic and insightful webinar, Jonny Perl—creator of the popular DNA Painter website—unveils his latest innovation: the DNA Matrix Tool. Presented live to a global audience via Legacy Family Tree Webinars, this session offers a first look at how the new tool transforms complex shared DNA data into a clear, interactive matrix. Designed to support genealogists at every level, this powerful visual aid streamlines analysis of genetic relationships, making it easier than ever to interpret and share DNA match information. Whether you’re solving longstanding family mysteries or tracking your ancestral lines, this tool brings a fresh perspective to autosomal DNA research.
Jonny Perl is a genealogist, DNA enthusiast and web developer based in Swansea, Wales. He is the creator and founder of dnapainter.com, an award-winning web application for chromosome mapping. Jonny has also collaborated with leading genetic genealogists to create other popular tools that help people around the world interpret the results of their autosomal DNA tests. His passion is in exploring new ways of visualising DNA and family tree information to help make it more inviting and user-friendly. Born in Belfast, Jonny has family roots in Ireland, England and Germany.
April 18, 2026 – HYBRID
160-Year-Old Mystery Solved – The Parents of Mary & Sam Revealed Using Banyan DNA presented by John Motzi
John J. Motzi will present virtually on Zoom
Presentation will be recorded; available on website until April 2027
Virtual attendees – Registration available later
BanyanDNA is a tool for building, visualizing, and analyzing complex genealogies. It facilitates development and comparison of relationship theories between DNA testers. Any tree one can draw can be analyzed and the expected amount of DNA sharing determined.
BanyanDNA allows tree modelling of simultaneous multiple relationships such as double first cousins, ¾ cousins, etc. It also allows multiple ancestors and union couples, joining unrelated family groups. If you can draw it, then Banyan can analyze it. BanyanDNA builds expected ranges for matches based on a simplified (e.g. no gender difference) recombination model. It therefore can build the expected cM sharing range for any relationship that can be described by a tree. BanyanDNA’s unique capabilities will be demonstrated in a case study linking seemingly unrelated families.
A step-by-step approach to forming & solving autosomal DNA hypotheses will be demonstrated. The story beings with serendipitous autosomal DNA matching between 3 seemingly unrelated families whom we will designate with the fictitious names Altobello, Pentangeli & Maranzano. Members from each family match members of the other two families, suggesting a common ancestry. How are these families linked?
DNA Tools Demonstrated: Shared cM Project, Banyan DNA
John Motzi, Ph.D., is a retired pharmaceutical research scientist and manager with more than 30 years of industrial experience. He is a passionate amateur genealogist with over twenty-five years of experience, including genetic genealogy. He has developed expertise in Italian and French-Canadian research, as well as in various autosomal DNA tools. John has tested with all the major genetic testing companies. He participated with two other genealogists in the published mtDNA triangulation of his matrilineal 9th great-grandmother, who migrated from France to Quebec in 1668. John has studied at GRIP, is the co-leader of an advanced genetic genealogy discussion group and is an Administrator of the Roseberry and Roxburgh surname project, and the FTDNA T1 mtDNA Haplogroup Project.
May 16, 2026 – HYBRID
Comparing DNA Ethnicity Estimates presented by Richard Hill
Richard Hill will present virtually
Past Topics
2026
- January: Understanding Your DNA Health Reports presented by Kelli Bergheimer
- February: Who, What, Where, How and Why: Using Y-DNA presented by Ron Velarde
2025
- January: Building Genetic Networks presented by Kathleen Fernandes
- February: IGG: A DNA Tool Solving the Unsolvable presented by Britta Brewer
- March: Privacy, DNA, and Genealogy: Handling the Double-Edged Sword presented by Thomas MacEntee
- April: CANCELED
- May: Ancestry Dots, ThruLines and an Organized Plan presented by Kelli Bergheimer
- June: 160-Year-Old Mystery Solved: Simultaneous Probability Model Reveals the Parents of Mary and Sam presented by John Motzi
- July: Pedigree Triangulation: A Key Methodology for Genetic Genealogy presented by Diana Elder
- August: Using DNA Test Results in Genealogical Research: A How-To Guide presented by Kathleen Fernandes, Ph.D
- September: DNA Doesn’t Lie, But Should We? Ethics and 21st Century Genealogy presented by Judy Russell
- October: DNA Matching Technology on MyHeritage: A New Frontier in Genealogy presented by Daniel Horowitz
- November: FamilyTreeDNA + WikiTree: The Power of Collaboration for Your DNA Matches presented by Katy Rowe-Schurwanz
2024
- January: DNA Misconceptions presented by Kelli Bergheimer
- February: What is ISOGG? & How to Use Its WIKI! presented by Kitty Cooper
- March: Unlocking the Power of DNA Projects for Your Research presented by Rachel Unkefer
- April: What’s in a Picture: Visualizing DNA and Family Relationships presented by Kathleen Fernandes
- May: Preparing for 3rd Party DNA Tools presented by Sara Cochran
- June: Scapple for Genetic Genealogy – The Simple Tool that Packs a Punch presented by Michelle Trostler
- July: DIG Open Forum Meeting
- August: Adoption Meets DNA presented by Beth Swartz
- September: DIG Open Forum Meeting With Zoom
- October: DNA Matchmaking Made Easy on MyHeritage presented by Shannon Combs-Bennett, QG, MSc, FSAScot
- November: Maximize Your Maternal Research with the New Mitotree and Mito Discover presented by Katy Rowe-Schurwanz