Genetic Genealogy Links & Resources

By Louise Coakley

Useful Links

Once you start taking an interest in DNA testing for family history purposes, you will naturally want to find out more about how everything works – the different test types, who to test, choice of testing companies, understanding results, taking it further, support groups, online forums, advanced tools, projects, etc.

There are so many great resources, so I have listed just a few below to get you started (some are listed in more than one category). Each will lead you to more great resources.

Beginners & Basics

Introduction to DNA testing for Genealogy
What types of DNA tests are available?
Which DNA testing company should I use?
Price Comparison for Autosomal DNA Tests
Books on Genetic Genealogy
DNA Success Stories
Understanding DNA – Family Tree DNA
DNA Testing Portal – ISOGG Wiki
Our three basic tests – Family Tree DNA
What can your DNA say about you? – 23andMe
Beginners Guide to Genetics – Kelly Wheaton
Genetic Genealogy Education – BCG
Family Tree DNA webinars (definitely watch these early on to learn about the different test types and how to understand your results in your myFTDNA account)
Cyndi’s List of DNA & Genetics links
Learn Genetics – brief videos for beginners – SMGF & Uni of Utah
- Introduction to Molecular Genealogy; The Four Types of DNA; Autosomal DNA; X-Chromosome DNA; Y-Chromosome DNA; Mitochondrial DNA
DNA Interest Groups – Look for one near you or establish a DIG in your local FHS
Join your local Family History Society to get assistance with your genealogical research (refer to coraweb.com.au for lists of Australian societies, to Cyndi’s List for worldwide societies, or try a Google search using keywords +placename +family +history, as not all are listed in directories).

DNA Kits, Testing & Testing Labs

The Ideal Life of a Family Tree DNA Kit – FTDNA on YouTube
The FTDNA Test Process – FTDNA Learning Centre
FTDNA weekly test batches and numbers – FTDNA Learning Centre
How long do my results take once in the lab? – FTDNA Learning Centre
Tour of the Family Tree DNA Lab – by CeCe Moore
Touring the Family Tree DNA lab – by Kitty Cooper
23andMe kit contents & instructions – 23andMe on YouTube
Providing saliva for 23andMe’s test – 23andMe
Tips for providing saliva samples – 23andMe
Collecting saliva for AncestryDNA’s test – Ancestry
Getting DNA from locks of hair – Judy G Russell
Exhumation & Forensic Samples – Roberta Estes
Does FTDNA test other types of samples? – FTDNA
List of forensic and ancient DNA laboratories – ISOGG Wiki
Challenges in DNA testing hair samples – Forensic Mag
DNA: Life after death – Judy G Russell
Testing DNA when time is running out – The Root
Free Y-DNA tests for selected surname projects – ISOGG Wiki

Choosing a DNA Testing Company

Which DNA testing company should I use?
Choosing a DNA Testing Company – ISOGG Wiki
Which DNA test is best for me? – Maurice Gleeson
Autosomal DNA testing company comparison chart – ISOGG
AncestryDNA with and without a subscription – Ancestry blog
DNA Test Sales & Discount Offers
FamilyTreeDNA.com
23andMe.com
AncestryDNA
MyHeritage DNA
Living DNA

Testing company database sizes

AncestryDNA reported more than 25 Million DNA testers as of 10 Nov 2023.

23andMe had more than 14 million DNA testers as of late 25 Jul 2023.

MyHeritage DNA reports more than 8.5 million kits in their DNA database as of 11 Sep 2024.

FamilyTreeDNA autosomal DNA database includes 1,661,040 people as of 30 Jun 2024.
Living DNA last reported its database at around 300,000 kits in Jan 2021, although it must be higher as match lists have at least doubled for many DNA testers since then.

Useful Charts & Tools

Shared cM Project Relationship Calculator – DNA Painter
Relationship cM & Percentage Charts – ISOGG (scroll down page to view charts)
Cousinship Chart – ISOGG
Cousin definitions & examples – Wikipedia
Cousins, Removes & Other Such Stuff – Paul Stoneburner
Chances of finding a DNA match – FTDNA
mtDNA generational probabilities – FTDNA
Y-DNA generational probabilities – FTDNA
X-DNA inheritance diagram – Louise Coakley

Webinars, Videos & Audio

Family Tree DNA webinars (definitely watch these early on to learn about the different test types and how to understand your results in your myFTDNA account).
Family Tree DNA YouTube channel
23andMe YouTube Channel
Ancestry YouTube Channel
MyHeritage YouTube Channel
Living DNA YoutTube Channel

Facebook Groups

Websites & Blogs

International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG)
Genetic Genealogy Standards
Family Tree DNA Learning Resources
Your Genetic Genealogist – by CeCe Moore
Genealem’s Genetic Genealogy – by Emily Aulicino
Genie1 Genetic Genealogy – by Louise Coakley
DNA-eXplained – by Roberta Estes
The Genetic Genealogist – by Blaine Bettinger
Cruwys News – by Debbie Kennett
Kitty Cooper’s blog
Genetic Genealogy Ireland – by Maurice Gleeson
Adoption and DNA – by CeCe Moore
DNAadoption – by Rob Warthen
The Legal Genealogist – by Judy Russell
Segment-ology – by Jim Bartlett
DNA testing combined with FAN & GPS – Elizabeth Shown Mills

Autosomal DNA Basics

atDNA: Finding matches on all ancestral lines
ISOGG portal on Autosomal DNA
Beginner’s Guide to Autosomal DNA Testing – FTDNA Learning Centre
myFTDNA pages User Guide – Family Finder – FTDNA Learning Centre
myFTDNA autosomal results FAQs – FTDNA Learning Centre
Autosomal DNA transfer program – FTDNA
FTDNA Webinars on Family Finder
ISOGG Wiki on Autosomal DNA tests
Identical by Descent – ISOGG Wiki
Autosomal DNA Match Thresholds – ISOGG Wiki
Entertaining explanation of Irish atDNA – Maurice Gleeson
Step by step analysis of atDNA matches – Maurice Gleeson
The Porcupine Chart – Genetic Ancestors – Jim Bartlett
Autosomal DNA – How to use it in practice – Maurice Gleeson
I’ve got my autosomal DNA results – now what do I do? – Debbie Kennett
atDNA: Who can test and how can it help your genealogy? – Emily Aulicino
Concepts: How your autosomal DNA identifies your ancestors – Roberta Estes
Concepts: Identical by… Descent, State, Population & Chance – Roberta Estes
Concepts: centiMorgans and SNPs – Roberta Estes
Everyone has Two Family Trees: a Genealogical Tree and a Genetic Tree – Blaine Bettinger
Full Sibling versus Half Sibling DNA Matches – Kitty Cooper
Determining half relationships with Polynesians Part II – Kalani Mondoy

Autosomal DNA Segments & Triangulation

How to Triangulate – Jim Bartlett
Measuring Segments – Jim Bartlett
Recombination & Crossovers – Jim Bartlett
Autosomal DNA Pile-ups – Jim Bartlett
How to create a Lazarus Kit – Blaine Bettinger
Small segments – various articles by Blaine Bettinger
Phasing Yourself – Roberta Estes
Phasing – ISOGG Wiki
What a Difference a Phase Makes – Ann Turner
Concepts: Parental Phasing – Roberta Estes
Creating a Phased Parental Kit at GEDmatch – Roberta Estes
DNArboretum Chrome Extension for viewing FTDNA trees – Genealogy Junkie
Ahnentafel to Gedcom Converter – Kitty Cooper
Does Triangulation Work? – Jim Bartlett
Proof of Sticky Segments – Jim Bartlett
CA (common ancestors) & MRCA (most recent common ancestors) – Jim Bartlett
Autosomal DNA Triangulation, Part 1 & Part 2 – Debbie Kennett
A Triangulation Feature on the New 23andme – Kitty Cooper

Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA)

Y-DNA: the Direct Paternal Line
Free Y-DNA tests for selected surname projects – ISOGG Wiki
Beginner’s Guide to Y-DNA Testing – FTDNA Learning Centre
Y-Chromosome DNA Portal – ISOGG Wiki
Y-chromosome DNA Haplogroups – ISOGG Wiki
Y-DNA Haplogroup Tree – ISOGG Wiki
European Y-DNA Haplogroups – Eupedia
Y-DNA generational probabilities – FTDNA
myFTDNA pages User Guide – Y-DNA results – FTDNA
Key & Colour Coding on the Y-STR results page – FTDNA
Fathers, Sons & Brothers DNA Project – FTDNA
What is a haplogroup? – Roberta Estes
The Three Brothers – A great explanation of Haplogroups – Roberta Estes
Y-DNA Genetic Difference – FTDNA Learning Centre
Y-DNA Expected Relationship Chart – FTDNA Learning Centre
Y-DNA testing FAQs – FTDNA Learning Centre
Y-DNA transfers – FTDNA
FTDNA Y-DNA Transfer Program
FTDNA Webinars on Y-DNA
HELP! My Y-DNA matches have a different surname! – FTDNA
ISOGG Wiki on YDNA tests
y-str.org – Felix Immanuel’s tools
Big Y test information – FTDNA
Big-Y Matching – FTDNA
Zero/Deletion/Null marker values in Y-DNA STR results – Roberta Estes
Why should I test Y-DNA SNPs? – FTDNA Learning Centre
Advising members on Y-DNA SNP testing – FTDNA GAP webinar
Y-DNA: Chromosomes, Markers & Evolutionary Trees – Maurice Gleeson
Genetic Distance, Genetic Families, & Mutation History Trees – Maurice Gleeson
Y-Utility Y-DNA Comparison Utility – Ysearch mode
Y-Utility Y-DNA Comparison Utility – FTDNA mode
Building a Mutation History Tree with STR data – Maurice Gleeson
Haplogroups of European Kings & Queens – Eupedia
Tested 67 ySTR markers? Now what? – Dr D Dowell
What’s your ySNP testing strategy? – Dr D Dowell
Building a Family Tree with SNPs, STRs & Named People – Maurice Gleeson
Combining SNPS, STRs & Genealogy to build a surname origins tree – Maurice Gleeson
STRs vs SNPs, Multiple DNA Personalities – Roberta Estes
Surname Projects: Understanding what you see – Maurice Gleeson
Surfing the SNP sunami – NGS for Genetic Genealogists – John Cleary
Making sense of your Y-DNA results – Matches, Projects & Utilities – John Cleary
Using SNP Testing & STRs to enhance a genetic genealogy project – John Cleary
Use of Big-Y results in the Gleeson projects – Maurice Gleeson
SNP Tsunami continues into third year – Dr D Dowell
Y-DNA matches with different surnames – Maurice Gleeson

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

mtDNA: the Direct Maternal Line
Beginner’s Guide to mtDNA Testing – FTDNA Learning Centre
Mitochondrial DNA Portal – ISOGG Wiki
Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroups – ISOGG Wiki
European mtDNA Haplogroups – Europedia
What is a haplogroup? – Roberta Estes
mtDNA haplogroup tree – PhyloTree.org
MitoMap & MitoMaster – upload FASTA file for analysis
James Lick mtHap – upload FASTA file for analysis
mtDNA Haplogroup Mutations – view the mutations for your haplogroup
Differences between RSRS and rCRS reference sequences – Phylotree.org
mtDNA testing comparison chart – ISOGG Wiki
mtDNA generational probabilities – FTDNA
myFTDNA pages User Guide – mtDNA – FTDNA Learning Centre
mtDNA results page – FTDNA
mtDNA testing FAQs – FTDNA Learning Centre
FTDNA Webinars on mtDNA
ISOGG Wiki on mtDNA tests
mtDNAcommunity – mtDNA tools & phylogeny
Recent mtDNA mutation examples: Judy G Russell & Dave Dowell
Mitochondrial – the Maligned DNA – Judy G Russell
Genetic History of Polynesians & NZ Maori (mtDNA) – Edana Lord
Zero/Deletion/Null marker values in mtDNA results – Roberta Estes
Haplogroups of European Kings & Queens – Eupedia

X-chromosome DNA (X-DNA)

X-DNA’s helpful inheritance patterns
X-Chromosome Testing – ISOGG Wiki
X-Match Webinars: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 – FTDNA
That Unruly X Chromosome – by Roberta Estes
X-chromosome inactivation – NY Times
How the X-chromosome helps with maternal vs paternal – Kitty Cooper
Phasing the X-chromosome – Jim Owston
X-Chromosome – The X-tra Special Chromosome – Emily Aulicino
What does shared X-DNA really mean? – Kitty Cooper
X Chromosome Recombination’s Impact on DNA genealogy – Jared Smith

Adoption & Adoptees

Using DNA to solve adoption mysteries – YouTube video by Maurice Gleeson
Solving Irish adoption mysteries with DNA – Maurice Gleeson
Utilising DNA testing to break through adoption roadblocks – ISOGG Wiki
Adoption and DNA – by CeCe Moore
DNAadoption – by Rob Warthen (courses, information & tools to help understand your DNA results)
DNAadoption’s YouTube Channel
Methodology to identify relatives using your autosomal DNA – DNAGedcom
Step by step analysis of atDNA matches – Maurice Gleeson
Exploiting AncestryDNA to find ancestors using mirror trees – Dan Edwards
DNA detective work: Data mining through mirror trees (PDF) – Dan Edwards
AncestryDNA: The search for biological family – Ancestry
AncestryDNA: More tips for identifying biological family – Ancestry
DNA-Adoption – Yahoo Group
DNA-Adoption Tools – Yahoo Group
DNA Detectives – Facebook Group
DNA Detectives Down Under – Facebook Group
Australian Adoption DNA Project – FTDNA
About the Adoption DNA Project – FTDNA
Global Adoptees Genea DNA Project – FTDNA
DNA and adoptions – Radio interview with CeCe Moore – Blog Talk Radio
DNA Adoption Reunion Stories – DNAAdoption
Can DNA help you find your birth parents? (Part I) – Huffington Post
Can DNA help you find your birth parents? (Part II) – Huffington Post
Also see DNA Success Stories and links to articles in the media

Donor Conceived Resources

Donor Conceived DNA Project – FTDNA
DNA for the Donor Conceived (DNA Detectives) – Facebook Group
Donor Children Australia – Facebook Group
Australian Donor Conceived People Network – Facebook Group
Donor Sibling Registry
RUDC – Are You Donor Conceived?
Sperm Donors Anonymous – Film
Sperm donor information to be made available to offspring – The Age
Sperm Donor Fathers Reveal Struggle of Not Knowing Who Their Kids Are – CGS
Sperm donor father rights: Dads struggle not knowing children – PerthNow
Victorian Government considers world-first laws making it easier for donor-conceived offspring to identify sperm, egg donors – ABC News
ABC Documentary Sperm Donors Anonymous lifts the lid on donor conception conceived – SMH
Wealthy sperm donor fears contact from 2 dozen offspring Melbourne – The Age
Donor sperm used in Australia largely from men in the US – ABC PM
Proposed law changes could allow sperm donor-conceived children to get info about dads – Herald Sun
Sperm donor-conceived woman reveals unexpected biological connection to Professor Manning Clark – ABC News
Wellington scientist helps find dad who made 800 sperm donations – The Dominion Post
Patricia Issberner – Sperm Donor Revealed? – The View
Lost Girls – donor conceived girls find donor half-siblings through DNA – 23andMe blog
British scientist Bertold Wiezner fathered 1000 children in Britain – Daily Mail
The man known as Derek who fathered 500 British children – Daily Mail
The donor detectives – ABC Radio National
World’s most prolific sperm donor – with 800 children – finds clients through Facebook – The Telegraph
Indiana Fertility Doc Who Allegedly Used Own Sperm Faces Felony Obstruction Charges – NBC News

Ethnic Makeup & Admixture

What is Ancestry? – DNA.LAND (a must-read about ethnicity results!)
myOrigins Walkthrough – FTDNA
myOrigins Population Cluster Descriptions – FTDNA
Ethnicity Testing and Results (from the various companies) – Roberta Estes
Admixture: Not Soup Yet – Judy G Russell
ISOGG Wiki on Admixture Analyses
Genetic History of Polynesians & NZ Maori (mtDNA) – Edana Lord
AncestryDNA – The Viking in the Room – Ancestry blog
Exploring our Western European DNA – Ancestry blog
What does our DNA tell us about being Irish? – Ancestry blog
How long ago did a trace ancestry enter my family tree? – The Root
Australo-Melanese DNA found in Native American population – Roberta Estes
Irish people have more complex origins than previously thought – Marie McKeown
Archaeologists discover remains of first British settlers in North America – World News Daily
African DNA in the British Isles – Roberta Estes
Irish Origenes Viking Ireland Report & Map – Irish Origenes
DNA study shows Celts are not a unique genetic group – BBC News
Ethnicity Chromosome Mapping & Determining “Ethnicity” of shared DNA segments between related individuals – TL Dixon
DNA shows Northern Irish descended from painted warriors Pict tribe who battled the Romans – Irish Central
DNA reveals vikings brought their women with them when raiding the British Isles – Daily Mail
DNA of ancient children offers clues on how people settled the Americas – NY Times
DNA study finds London was ethnically diverse from start – BBC News
Deciphering DNA’s Astrology: Admixture Tools – IOWA DNA Project
Hawaii to allow DNA testing as proof of native ancestry – BuzzFeed News
Ethnicity Testing: A Conundrum – Roberta Estes
Coming down the 2016 Admixture pike – TL Dixon
Pacific Islanders got a double whammy of Stone Age DNA – Science News
Understanding AncestryDNA ethnicity results – Ancestry on YouTube
DNA Nation raises tough questions for Indigenous Australians – The Conversation
Will AncestryDNA tell me if I have Aboriginal or Maori ethnicity? – Ancestry

Ancient DNA

Ancient DNA Kit #s for comparison at GEDmatch – Felix Immanuel
Ancient DNA project – FTDNA
ISOGG Wiki on Ancient DNA
20 physical traits of a Neanderthal – Abroad in the Yard
Ancient DNA Calculator – Felix Immanuel
DNA from Neandertal relative may shake up human family tree – Science
Paleogenetics helpling to solve the pre-history mysteries – AEON
Finding your inner Neanderthal – 23andMe blog
Scientists sequence first ancient human genome from Africa – NY Times
How a one night stand in the Ice Age affects us all today – The Conversation
Hunting for DNA in Doggerland, and ancient land beneath the North Sea – Wired
Genographic Researchers in Australia Uncover Unique Branches of the Human Family Tree – National Geographic
The Neanderthal Advantage – 23andMe blog

Health Reporting

Promethease.com – health reports from your autosomal raw data for $US5
Promethease autosomal tool – ISOGG Wiki
Promethease Genetic Health Information Alternative – by Roberta Estes
A Health Data Option: Promethease, a place to start – by Judy G Russell
Interpreting a Promethease report – SNPedia
23andMe’s Drug Development – by the Centre for Genetics & Society
SNPs of genetically inherited traits, conditions and diseases – Eupedia
Why you shouldn’t know too much about your own genes – The Washington Post
How privacy law affects medical and scientific research – Genomics Law Report
Genomics and me – Ben Martynoga
How one family faced difficult decisions about DNA sequencing – The Wall Street Journal
Ancestry is talking to the FDA about using DNA to estimate risk of disease – The Verge
Genetic Testing Position Statement – Australian Medical Association
DNAdose – Australian DNA testing for medication dosage optimisation
23andMe, Ancestry, and Selling your DNA information – Roberta Estes

Endogamy

Endogamy – Description & Links – ISOGG Wiki
Endogamy I – Jim Bartlett
Jewish Genomics Presentation – NY Genomics Centre
Diamond Endogamy – Israel Pickholtz & Lara Diamond
Determining half relationships with Polynesians Part II – Kalani Mondoy

Projects

Project Administration

Project Administration Quick Start Guide – Family Tree DNA
Beginners Guide to the Group Administration Page at FTDNA
GAP Tools: Managing & Analysing Project Member Results
Advising Project Members on Y-DNA SNP Testing
DNA Project Administration Portal – ISOGG Wiki
Managing your DNA Project & interpreting results – Maurice Gleeson
FTDNA Group Administrators Forums
Member Sub-grouping Instructions (new 2020)

Forums

Books

Glossaries

Motivations & Expectations

The Genioz Study – Genomics: National Insights of Australians – aims to investigate the Australian public’s expectations of personal genomics
UBC Genetic Connections Study – Complete a before and after survey to assist research into the motivations of testing and the responses to results.

Privacy & Legal

Blurring the Lines – Protecting Matches’ Privacy – The Legal Genealogist
Family Tree DNA’s Terms & Policies
23andMe’s Privacy Policy, Terms of Service & optional Research Consent information
AncestryDNA’s Privacy Statement, Terms & Conditions and Consent Agreement
MyHeritage Terms of Service
Facts Matter: Reporting DNA issues accurately – The Legal Genealogist
Genetic Genealogy Standards
Genetic Discrimination Fact Sheet (US) – National Human Genome Institute

Law Enforcement use of Genetic Genealogy

ISOGG Wiki – Investigative Genetic Genealogy FAQs & Resources
ISOGG Wiki – Law enforcement cases solved using genetic genealogy
Parabon Nanolabs News – includes cases solved with genetic genealogy
Wikipedia – List of suspected perpetrators of crimes identified with GEDmatch
Department of Justice Announces Interim Policy on Emerging Method to Generate Leads for Unsolved Violent Crimes includes link to Download Interim Policy on Forensic Genetic Genealogical DNA Analysis and Searching
Institute for DNA Justice – to educate the public about Investigative Genetic Genealogy
SWGDAM – The Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods – Overview of Investigative Genetic Genealogy (pdf)
How your DNA can help identify human remains and solve cold cases – Louise Coakley
Investigative Genetic Genealogy in Australia & New Zealand (Facebook group)
Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board – IGGAB
DNA Justice – Where you can upload your DNA to help law enforcement solve cases

DNA Success Stories

TV

The Genetic Detective – starring CeCe Moore
– on ABC (US) and the Investigation Discovery (ID) channel
Who Do You Think You Are – SBS OnDemand (Australian viewers)
Every Family Has a Secret – SBS OnDemand (Australian viewers)
DNA Surprises – SBS Insight (Australian viewers)
The DNA Detectives (NZ viewers)
DNA Nation – SBS (Ernie Dingo, Julia Demiro, Ian Thorpe) – 2016
Genealogy Roadshow
Catalyst – Out of Africa – ABC
Dead Famous DNA (link expired; try Google for a link in your region)
Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jnr (US viewers)
Relative Race