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DNA
Your Family History is in your DNA
Louise Coakley
GENEALOGY has ranked amongst the most popular of pastimes for centuries. Many of us are intrigued to learn who came before us and from where, and to uncover any interesting stories or remarkable characters hiding in our family’s history. Knowing our past can also help form our own identities.
Building family trees relies upon gathering family stories from living relatives and collecting documentary evidence such as birth, marriage, death certificates and public records to support connections between each generation. This is what we relied upon, even if it was not accurate.
Enter Genetic Genealogy, which combines DNA testing with traditional genealogical research to infer relationships between individuals. The development and rapid adoption of direct-to-consumer DNA testing for genealogy has had such an impact that DNA evidence has become an essential part of family history research.
Building family trees relies upon gathering family stories from living relatives and collecting documentary evidence such as birth, marriage, death certificates and public records to support connections between each generation. This is what we relied upon, even if it was not accurate.
Enter Genetic Genealogy, which combines DNA testing with traditional genealogical research to infer relationships between individuals. The development and rapid adoption of direct-to-consumer DNA testing for genealogy has had such an impact that DNA evidence has become an essential part of family history research.
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People test their DNA for different reasons. Many just want to reveal their biogeographical ancestry (aka ethnicity estimates). Genealogists test to confirm previous family history research, to locate the origins of immigrant or convict ancestors, to check surname relatedness, to verify or disprove family stories, to explore research dead-ends or solve family mysteries, to connect with cousins to share research and photographs, or simply out of curiosity to see what their DNA reveals. People with unknown parentage (eg. adoptees, foundlings) test their DNA to help identify close biological relatives such as parents and siblings.
More than 37 million people worldwide have tested their DNA at one or more of the five genealogy DNA testing companies: AncestryDNA, MyHeritage DNA, Family Tree DNA, 23andMe, or Living DNA. Mums and dads, grandmas and grandpas, families and students are regular purchasers of direct-to-consumer DNA test kits, and Australians are definitely not shy in getting tested. The most popular part of the DNA results are the matches to other people who have tested at the same company. The more DNA you share with someone, the more closely you are related. This matching feature enables you to connect with biological relatives, whether previously known or not. DNA tools are becoming easier and quite sophisticated, such that several of the DNA testing companies enable you to link your DNA results to yourself in your online family tree, to connect with cousins who share DNA and have the same ancestors in their trees. Some companies are also experimenting in the generation of family trees based only on DNA. There are all sorts of clever third-party tools enabling you to explore and analyse your DNA for different purposes. And you can transfer your DNA data file from some companies to other companies for free, to match with relatives who have tested at the other companies. |
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If you are interested in using your DNA to reveal your family history, the Using DNA for Genealogy – Australia & NZ group on Facebook is an ideal place to get started, ask questions, find resources, share experiences, and obtain guidance or help understanding your DNA results.
2021 is the seventh year for this active and friendly group of more than 12,000 members helping each other voluntarily. If you do join, remember to tell us that you were recommended by Moonee Valley Magazine! Louise Coakley, Genetic Genealogist Creator & Leader of Using DNA for Genealogy – Australia & NZ Factsheet: DNA Testing for Family History |
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For further information or advertising contact
Alan Davidson (Publisher)
E: davopr@bigpond.net.au
M: 0410 518 034
Alan Davidson (Publisher)
E: davopr@bigpond.net.au
M: 0410 518 034