Saturday, September 15, 2018

DNA Explosion, Meeting Monday


It has been another busy week of announcements about DNA.  So DNA will be one of our topics at our Genies meeting this Monday 9/17.  As always, 1:00 at the Ferndale Library.  Setup and networking starting at 12:30. We welcome everyone. The Genies can help you get started or dig deeper into the technology.

You may think the news that follows is beyond you but we will dial it back and help you at our Genies meeting on Monday.

MyHeritage News
For everyone: In the two years since MyHeritage introduced DNA testing they have earned their place in the top-tier of DNA testing.  They have been responsive to providing the services and tools that genealogists have requested.  They rival and exceed some of the others.  This week they announced something we should perk up our ears to.  They have provided free transfers of raw DNA data from the other testing companies to MyHeritage.  The transfers will continue to be free but starting December 1st they will begin charging for some features. 

Now is the time to transfer your raw DNA data to MyHeritage.  You may not use it for now but you will be grandfathered in and not have to pay charges in the future.  Even if you don’t do anything, you have put yourself out there where someone else can find you.  We can help you do this at the meeting.

Some Bloggers
I will use this opportunity to introduce you to some bloggers.  Often I find that the bloggers give a more complete description of changes than the company gave along with a link to the company’s announcement.  The bloggers often try out the changes and give advice about how to put changes into action.

Meet Debbie Kennett who blogs at Cruwys News from the British Isles and comes highly recommended by DNA expert Diahan Southard.  Debbie blogged about the MyHeritage changes on Thursday, September 13 here.  https://cruwys.blogspot.com/


AncestryDNA News
AncestryDNA’s big news is a big change to everyone’s Ethnicity Estimate.  They have greatly increased their reference points and changed their ethnicity algorithms.  When you go into your DNA Story section, you will be presented with some questions and finally a chance to accept the new estimate permanently (though they give you a chance to return to your old estimate).  I wonder why anyone would go back when the accuracy and the science have improved.  Probably want to stick with their lederhosen.

Also on September 13th Debbie Kennett blogged on the “Updated Ethnicity Estimates now available for everyone at from AncestryDNA”.  At the end she has a list of links to other bloggers.  https://cruwys.blogspot.com/
  
Debbie writes:
“I always used to say that "ethnicity" estimates should be taken with a large pinch of salt and are really only of entertainment value, but we are now starting to get the stage where the results for some people can provide a reasonable approximation of their ancestry. “

Roberta Estes at DNA Explained blog has written about her new results.

Here’s the link to Leah Larkin's commentary:

DNA Bloggers
There are thousands of genealogy bloggers so here is a list of the top bloggers on DNA.  Most have a signup and push the posts to your email.  Many have comments from their readers too.

Blaine Bettinger, http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com, infrequent posts but always important.

Roberta Estes, https://dna-explained.com/, longer, frequent posts, filled with step-by-step instructions and screen shot, you name a DNA topic and she has written a blogpost.  Also has posts about her ancestors which you may or may not be interested in.

Debbie Kennett, https://cruwys.blogspot.com/  She tries out all the new features.

Kitty Cooper, http://blog.kittycooper.com/ tries everything, she writes tools.

Leah Larkin, http://thednageek.com/, Cheryl follows her

Top two DNA Facebook pages
DNA Detectives- CeCe Moore, adoptions and unknown parentage
Genetic Genealogy Tips and Techniques, Blaine Bettinger

There are literally thousands of genealogy Facebook groups.  Try a surname or a county or a foreign country.  Most software and websites have Facebook groups.  The best place to ask a question is a group focused on exactly what you want to know.

Hope to see you on Monday to explore some of these topics.

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