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
February 21, 2026 – HYBRID
Who, What, Where, How and Why: Using Y-DNA presented by Ron Velarde
Ron Velarde will present in-person at the library
Presentation will be recorded; available on website indefinitely
Virtual attendees – Register HERE
National DNA Day is April 25, which commemorates both the discovery of DNA’s double helix in 1953 and the successful completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. This study, using mostly autosomal DNA on limited populations, provided the first genetic information for the more “recent” history of humankind, but did not address the additional questions of when and where did “we” come from and how did we get here. This led to the Genographic Project a few years later, sponsored by the National Geographic Society, which added Y-DNA and mitochondrial testing to look at Deep Ancestry to decipher our distant past. This presentation will use my Y-DNA results and the subsequent questions that can arise, and some of the known ways to get answers to these questions. The most important takeaway is that “You still have to do traditional genealogy in addition to the genetic genealogy!”
Ron Velarde received a B.S. degree in Marine Biology from California State University, Long Beach in 1976. After additional academic education and hands-on experience in taxonomy, he accepted a Marine Biologist position with the City of San Diego which turned into a 36-year career! A perfect day was 8 hours on the microscope identifying the benthic invertebrates, especially polychaete worms, as required monitoring of the effects of the sewage outfall discharge off Point Loma. The development of techniques using DNA for the identification of “cryptic” species and the higher classification of invertebrates led to a new interest in the use of DNA for taxonomy and subsequently genealogy. He joined the North San Diego County Genealogical Society in 2014 because of the DNA Interest Group (DIG), becoming the co-chair in early 2022 and then the chair later that year.
March 21, 2026
Speaker and topic TBD
Past Topics
2026
- January: Understanding Your DNA Health Reports presented by Kelli Bergheimer
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