You Can DO the DNA #4–See What DNA Success Looks Like: Real Case Studies

The speaker welcomes the audience to the final day of Roots Tech, focusing on the use of DNA in family history research. They promise increased confidence in utilizing DNA for genealogy by the end of the presentation. The session is part of a four-part series, and attendees are encouraged not to worry if they missed the earlier parts. The main goal is to work through a case study, applying a step-by-step procedure known as 'the plan' to demonstrate how DNA can be useful in genealogical research. The case study involves identifying Brena's great-grandfather, using autosomal DNA testing, and sorting through DNA match lists to find relevant connections.

The presenter outlines strategies for identifying the 'best known match' from a DNA match list. This involves finding a descendant of a common ancestor where the genealogical connection is already known. In the absence of a direct 'best known match', the speaker suggests using the elimination method to narrow down the list of matches. Tools like Ancestry's 'Through Lines' can be used to expedite this process. The focus is on finding a first cousin on Brena's maternal line to serve as a 'best known match' and then using a match labeling system to identify maternal line matches.

The speaker explains the elimination method in detail, which involves removing all matches that are not relevant to the research goal. This includes eliminating matches from the maternal line and the direct paternal line. The presenter also discusses the use of a 'dot system' for labeling matches and emphasizes that it is a filtering system rather than a filing system. The goal is to identify 'leftovers'—matches that do not correspond to any known lines and may hold the key to answering the research question. The presenter also discusses the importance of identifying the correct generation of connection for each match.

The presenter delves into the complexities of DNA matching and the importance of understanding genetic relationships. They highlight the value of half-siblings and half-relatives in genealogical research due to their potential to reveal hidden lines of descent. The discussion includes the use of shared matches tools to filter out irrelevant matches and the process of identifying the best mystery matches. The presenter also talks about the Shared cM Project as a resource for understanding expected DNA sharing amounts with relatives.

The focus shifts to identifying the generation of connection for each match, which is crucial for understanding how individuals are related. The presenter uses the example of a DNA match sharing 24 centiMorgans (cM) and discusses how to interpret the possible genetic relationships suggested by the DNA testing platform. They emphasize the need to critically evaluate each potential relationship in the context of the specific family history and to use the available data to hypothesize the most likely connections.

The presenter discusses the process of building out family trees for DNA matches, even when the trees are not fully known or complete. They explain the use of public member trees to quickly construct a basic tree and the importance of focusing on the relevant line of descent. The presenter also addresses the challenges of dealing with complex family dynamics, such as illegitimate children or multiple relationships, and the need for careful analysis to avoid incorrect assumptions.

The speaker addresses the limitations of DNA testing and the need for a combination of genealogical and genetic data to draw accurate conclusions. They discuss the necessity of building quick and simple trees for DNA matches to gather the necessary data and the importance of verifying the accuracy of these trees. The presenter also talks about the use of tools like DNA Painter's 'W' to analyze genetic data and determine the most likely placement of an individual within a family tree.

The presenter advises on how to document DNA evidence in family trees, especially when dealing with hypothetical relationships. They suggest summarizing the research process and findings in the notes section of the tree to provide context for future researchers. The presenter also discusses the etiquette of making trees private when dealing with sensitive information or unconfirmed details and the practice of marking potential ancestors clearly in public trees.

The speaker provides advice on finding records to substantiate genetic hypotheses, especially in cases where records are scarce or difficult to locate. They reference the 'Search Party' method as a useful strategy for locating elusive documents and emphasize the importance of perseverance in genealogical research. The presenter also encourages the use of DNA evidence to guide the search for records and validate findings.