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.
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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