DNA Group News and Topics of Interest

1. A Virtual DNA meeting will be held on Thursday, Mar 18, 2021 at 7 pm.

Details concerning online connection will be sent to Members of MCGS by email within one week before the meeting.
You do not need to use the link below to get the link to connect to the meeting if you are a MCGS Member.
Members of the Public can receive an invitation by clicking

Request to Access MCGS DNA Group Meeting

In the first part of the meeting we will have an open forum where members will be able to ask questions and share their stories of successes or difficulties that they have encountered while pursuing Genetic Genealogy. Come prepared to participate.

We will then invite you to open your computer, logon to various sites, and answer a series of questions that we hope will help you to become more familiar with these sites. Please have your login information for all your DNA sites handy when you attend the meeting.

"DNA Potpourri

2. You are invited to view the videos of our 2 part series on

A Guide to Understanding Your Ancestry DNA Results

The first part covered,

A Tour of Ancestry DNA and Working with Matches

and the second part covered,

Filtering, Sorting, ThruLines, and Custom Groups for AncestryDNA Matches

Note that these videos are large files and will take some time to load.

If you click on the link and it opens in your browser, this is only a preview, and to see the video in full resolution, you will need to download it and then open it with the video app. on your device.

3. You are invited to view the video of our August 2020 DNA Group meeting on

Painting Your Chromosomes by Anita McPherson and DNA Facebook Groups by Sierra Pope

4. Blog Spot

Find out about the latest trends in DNA and Genealogy by reading the

Latest Blog Posts (updated 2/22/2021)
Posts for previous months, click here.

5. Check out the Handouts covering various topics of interest to this group which can be accessed here.

The following are new ones giving links to blog posts, videos and more, on current topics.

X-DNA Testing and Matching, DNA and Tree Associating, Y DNA Links, Ancestry ThruLines, Auto Clusters, Chromosome Painting & Visual Phasing, Using GEDmatch, New Features at Ancestry, and New Features at MyHeritage.

6. Useful DNA Video Lectures
a) Videos from lectures given at "Who Do You Think You Are" conferences held in Birmingham, England.
b) Videos from Genetic Genealogy Ireland conferences.
c) Videos of the Sessions at RootsTech 2019

7. DNA Tools

a) AncestryDNA Helper App for chrome browser

b) MedBetterDNA App for chrome browser

c) Autosomal DNA Analysis Tools by Tim Janzen

8. Resources
a) A good resource has been provided by Kitty Cooper as 'DNA Newbie FAQ'

b) Stream a video on "DNA for Beginners: The Three Tests" by Debbie Kennett.

c) Kelly Wheaton offers a "Beginners Guide to Genetic Genealogy"

d) CeCe Moore has a four part series on "DNA Testing for Genealogy"

e) FTDNA eBook "Interpreting Genetic Genealogy Results"

f) John A. Blair provides a basic discussion with "DNA 101"

g) Donna Rutherford provides "DNA - What, when, how, why - FAQ's for beginners"

h) Margaret O'Brien offers "How to Use AncestryDNA Matches – a Comprehensive Guide"

i) Discussion of "ICW vs. Triangulation" (download)

j) Which DNA tests to take - “Which DNA testing company should I use?”,
“Sorting out the DNA Tests Available for Genealogy” , and
"The Best DNA Ancestry Testing Kit"

k) Tips for Using GEDmatch

l) A video on GEDmatch basics from Angie Bush

m) A beginners guide to "DNA Genealogy Using GEDmatch"

n) Basics of DNA "Focus University: Understand DNA in 10 Minutes".

o) This has recommendations that some would argue with, "A Practical Guide to Using Autosomal DNA (atDNA) for Genealogical Purposes"

p) Handout for Downloading and Uploading Your DNA Data

q) Visual Phasing by Blaine Bettinger

r) Links to "Finding Biological Family With DNA Testing" (download)

s) References for X-DNA Testing and Matching (download)

t) Links to "Finding Lisa" story (download)

u) Lots of information, courtesy of NIH, on Genetics

v) Lots of useful links on "ISOGG Wiki" This has an interesting discussion of "Identical by Descent"

Please send comments or suggestions to Vernon Smith

DNA Group News and Topics of Interest

4. Blog Spot

6. Useful DNA Video Lectures a) Videos from lectures given at "Who Do You Think You Are" conferences held in Birmingham, England. b) Videos from Genetic Genealogy Ireland conferences. c) Videos of the Sessions at RootsTech 2019

8. Resources a) A good resource has been provided by Kitty Cooper as 'DNA Newbie FAQ' b) Stream a video on "DNA for Beginners: The Three Tests" by Debbie Kennett.

c) Kelly Wheaton offers a "Beginners Guide to Genetic Genealogy" d) CeCe Moore has a four part series on "DNA Testing for Genealogy" e) FTDNA eBook "Interpreting Genetic Genealogy Results" f) John A. Blair provides a basic discussion with "DNA 101"