Menu
Log in
Forgot password

Member login

Log in
Forgot password
Cart ()






HOW DO I USE DNA IN FAMILY HISTORY?


  • Home
  • FAQ
  • How do I use DNA in family history

Curious about DNA? Thinking of Testing?

There are a number of sources of information about DNA testing on the web, including Facebook and YouTube. Major testing companies such as FamilyTree DNA, Ancestry DNA and 23andMe etc have useful resources, including webinars.

The SAG has an Introduction to DNA Testing Webinar available for purchase through the SAG online shop, which will introduce you to using DNA testing as a tool in your research. Learn the basics required to get started: the types of tests, who to test, where to test, how to test, how much it costs, what you get and practical applications.

The Federation of Family History Societies in the UK has released a paper to help family historians understand more about DNA testing. While Australian laws may operate differently it contains some worthwhile advice and is included here courtesy of the Federation.   

Tested and want to know what to do next?

To be effective in DNA research you firstly need to be familiar with the evaluation tools provided by your testing company, and secondly be aware of some of the key concepts that underpin the analysis process. Testing companies such as Family Tree DNA, AncestryDNA, 23andMe, My Heritage etc all provide a range of educational items to assist with their product and all new users should gain familiarity with the relevant testing company's site.

The SAG also has the following webinars available for purchase in the shop which are considered the base skills needed for those wishing to undertake DNA research:

  • DNA Research, Key Concepts. This webinar aims to summarise some of the underlying key concepts that DNA researchers need to understand to be effective.

In addition to webinars, the SAG hosts lectures and hands on computer workshops focussed on practical applications using DNA sites and third party tools. Please check the Events Calendar for details of upcoming activities.

Want to dig deeper into your DNA results, expand your tree or break down a brick wall?

The SAG has two DNA Research Groups which you can attend to learn more about DNA.

Here is a list of upcoming DNA sessions 

Upcoming events

  • GROUP: Analysing your AncestryDNA Course Follow Up Meetings

    • 5 Aug 2021
    • 2 Jun 2022
    • 6 sessions
    • Your place!
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Ongoing forum for SAG members who have attended the Analysing Your AncestryDNA Course.

    A series of meetings have been planned for participants of the Summer 2021 program who are interested in continuing to work with each other on developing their skill in "starting to solve their DNA dilemmas".

    FOCUS OF SESSIONS: Changes to the AncestryDNA platform and participants sharing case studies with and without brick walls!

    DURATION: 1.5 hours on Zoom on the first Thursday of alternative months starting on 5 August 2021 from 7.30pm to 9pm - February, April, June, August, October, December.

    COST: You need to be a current SAG member to be part of the group. The annual cost (on top of SAG membership) is $60 and this covers the 6 sessions.

    PARTICIPANTS: Open to anyone who have attended the “Analysing your AncestryDNA” program and is a current member of the SAG.

    Group Leader: Christine Woodlands

    Show details

  • WEBINAR: Analysing your DNA results using Chromosome Analysis - FULL SERIES

    • 25 Aug 2021
    • 24 Nov 2021
    • 4 sessions
    • Your place!
    • 324
    Register

    Are you ready to take your DNA results to the next level using chromosome analysis? Do you have your DNA data at a site with a chromosome browser and want to understand how to work with your results?

    Veronica Williams is offering a 4 webinar series designed to assist you to understand how to work with chromosome information. The webinars can be viewed individually but are best viewed as a series. Later webinars will build on concepts discussed in earlier sessions.

    Further details can be found by clicking here

    This series is suitable for intermediate DNA researchers. Whilst some foundation concepts will be discussed in Part 1 later modules will assume knowledge of basic DNA concepts and tools. To fully benefit from this series participants should already be familiar with most of the points outlined in ''Starting to work with your DNA results - the basics"

    Analysing your DNA using chromosome analysis is a four part webinar series. Book using this event listing if you want to attend  all four of the sessions at the discount price of $40 members, $70 non-members.

    Skill Level: Intermediate  Presenter: Veronica Williams

    Show details

  • WEBINAR: Analysing your DNA results using Chromosome Analysis - Module 2

    • 22 Sep 2021
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Your place!
    • 79
    Register

    Module 2 - Organising your DNA data and determining match groups

    Are you ready to take your DNA results to the next level using chromosome analysis? Do you have your DNA data at a site with a chromosome browser and want to understand how to work with your results?

    Veronica Williams is offering a 4 webinar series designed to assist you to understand how to work with chromosome information. The webinars can be viewed individually but are best viewed as a series. Later webinars will build on concepts discussed in earlier sessions.

    Further details can be found by clicking here

    This series is suitable for intermediate DNA researchers. Whilst some foundation concepts will be discussed in Part 1 later modules will assume knowledge of basic DNA concepts and tools. To fully benefit from this series participants should already be familiar with most of the points outlined in ''Starting to work with your DNA results - the basics"

    Analysing your DNA using chromosome analysis is a four part webinar series. Book using this event listing if you just want to attend this session. If you want to book for all four of the sessions with the course discount of $40 members, $70 non-members, please book using the event called WEBINAR: Analysing your DNA using chromosome analysis - FULL SERIES

    Skill Level: Intermediate  Presenter: Veronica Williams

    Show details

  • WEBINAR: First Look at AncestryDNA

    • 12 Oct 2021
    • 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Your place
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    Christine will share her "Top 10" techniques for working with AncestryDNA. This session is ideal for those who are taking a first look at their AncestryDNA test or thinking about testing at AncestryDNA.

    Demonstrations and case studies will be featured in the session. There'll be plenty of time for questions. Reference material will be available after the session.

    To get the most out of your results, we recommend you consider joining the wait list for "Analysing your Ancestry DNA results" which will commence later this year or early in 2022. You can do this by locating the listing on SAG's website events page for the current running of this course and clicking on "join waitlist".

    This session is limited to 25 participants.

    This session will conducted on through Zoom and will not be recorded. Participants should be available at the advertised time.


    Skill level: Beginner  Presenter: Christine Woodlands 

    Show details

  • Webinar: Exploring your DNA results at MyHeritage

    • 13 Oct 2021
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Your Place!
    • 305
    Register

    Have you tested your DNA at MyHeritage or uploaded your DNA data to this website and not sure what to do next?

    This webinar will provide an introduction to the MyHeritage DNA website, exploring each of its main features and taking a look at the power of the chromosome browser in assisting to identify DNA matches that share common segments and common ancestors.

    The concept of ‘segment triangulation’ at MyHeritage will be explained with examples identifying how to locate triangulated groups. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how this valuable website can help them to take their DNA results to the next level.

    The scheduling of this session has been timed to complement the series of webinars on chromosome analysis being presented by Veronica Williams, however, anyone is welcome to attend.

    There will be time for participants to ask questions.

    Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate  Presenter: Barbara McAlary

    Show details

  • WEBINAR: Analysing your DNA results using Chromosome Analysis - Module 3

    • 20 Oct 2021
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Your place!
    • 96
    Register

    Module 3 - Determining your MRCA from triangulated chromosome groups

    Are you ready to take your DNA results to the next level using chromosome analysis? Do you have your DNA data at a site with a chromosome browser and want to understand how to work with your results?

    Veronica Williams is offering a 4 webinar series designed to assist you to understand how to work with chromosome information. The webinars can be viewed individually but are best viewed as a series. Later webinars will build on concepts discussed in earlier sessions.

    Further details can be found by clicking here

    This series is suitable for intermediate DNA researchers. Whilst some foundation concepts will be discussed in Part 1 later modules will assume knowledge of basic DNA concepts and tools. To fully benefit from this series participants should already be familiar with most of the points outlined in ''Starting to work with your DNA results - the basics"

    Analysing your DNA using chromosome analysis is a four part webinar series. Book using this event listing if you just want to attend this session. If you want to book for all four of the sessions with the course discount of $40 members, $70 non-members, please book using the event called WEBINAR: Analysing your DNA using chromosome analysis - FULL SERIES

    Skill Level: Intermediate  Presenter: Veronica Williams

    Show details

  • WEBINAR: Beginners Introduction to DNA

    • 23 Oct 2021
    • 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Your place
    • 491
    Register

    Receiving your test results is an exciting time but it can quickly become confusing. This session will look at the different types of tests available, which one is right for you and which companies do these tests. We will look at some basics to help you understand and interpret your matches and there will be plenty of time for questions so you can start finding those new cousins!

    This is an online session using the ZOOM platform.

    It will NOT be recorded due to privacy reasons, so you should only book if you can attend live.


    Skill level: Beginners     Presenter: Melissa Hulbert    

    Note: Members need to be logged in to the site to make an event booking.

    Show details

  • WEBINAR: Analysing your DNA results using Chromosome Analysis - Module 4

    • 24 Nov 2021
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Your place!
    • 97
    Register

    Module 4 - Confirming your genetic research and mapping your genome

    Are you ready to take your DNA results to the next level using chromosome analysis? Do you have your DNA data at a site with a chromosome browser and want to understand how to work with your results?

    Veronica Williams is offering a 4 webinar series designed to assist you to understand how to work with chromosome information. The webinars can be viewed individually but are best viewed as a series. Later webinars will build on concepts discussed in earlier sessions.

    Further details can be found by clicking here

    This series is suitable for intermediate DNA researchers. Whilst some foundation concepts will be discussed in Part 1 later modules will assume knowledge of basic DNA concepts and tools. To fully benefit from this series participants should already be familiar with most of the points outlined in ''Starting to work with your DNA results - the basics"

    Analysing your DNA using chromosome analysis is a four part webinar series. Book using this event listing if you just want to attend this session. If you want to book for all four of the sessions with the course discount of $40 members, $70 non-members, please book using the event called WEBINAR: Analysing your DNA using chromosome analysis - FULL SERIES

    Skill Level: Intermediate  Presenter: Veronica Williams

    Show details

Past events

8 Sep 2021 Webinar: GEDmatch Basics
30 Aug 2021 Let's Talk About...Archives
25 Aug 2021 WEBINAR: Analysing your DNA results using Chromosome Analysis - Module 1
21 Aug 2021 GROUP: DNA Research Group
21 Aug 2021 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Tools in Practice
26 Jul 2021 Let's Talk About...DNA
10 Jul 2021 WEBINAR: Beginners Introduction to DNA
15 May 2021 WEBINAR: DNA Research Group - Beginners
12 May 2021 Analysing Your Ancestry DNA Results
24 Apr 2021 GROUP: DNA Research Group
24 Apr 2021 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Tools in Practice
20 Feb 2021 WEBINAR: Writing an article for a family history magazine (ST)
9 Feb 2021 WEBINAR: Borland Genetics - Tools and Workflows
6 Feb 2021 GROUP: DNA Research Group
6 Feb 2021 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Tools in Practice
20 Jan 2021 Analysing Your Ancestry DNA Results
16 Jan 2021 WEBINAR: DNA Research Group - Beginners
28 Nov 2020 GROUP: DNA Research Group
28 Nov 2020 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Tools in Practice
10 Nov 2020 WEBINAR: Using Genetic Affairs to cluster your DNA Matches (ST)
16 Oct 2020 WEBINAR: GEDmatch course - Part 3
10 Oct 2020 WEBINAR: DNA Research Group - Beginners
2 Oct 2020 WEBINAR: GEDmatch course - Part 2
26 Sep 2020 Building research trees at Ancestry
18 Sep 2020 WEBINAR: GEDmatch course - Part 1
28 Aug 2020 COURSE: DNA Painter Tools Course
22 Aug 2020 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Advanced
22 Aug 2020 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Intermediate, Tools in Practice
11 Aug 2020 WEBINAR: Introduction to DNA reconstruction (concepts & tools)
25 Jul 2020 WEBINAR: DNA Research Group - Beginners
19 Jun 2020 HANDS ON: Family Tree DNA
16 May 2020 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Intermediate, Tools in Practice
16 May 2020 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Intermediate, Tools in practice
4 Apr 2020 WEBINAR: Working with Family Tree DNA (FTDNA)
4 Apr 2020 LECTURE: Working with Family Tree DNA (FTDNA)
4 Apr 2020 WEBINAR: DNA Research Group - Beginners
26 Mar 2020 LECTURE: DNA case studies
20 Mar 2020 HANDS ON COMPUTERS: Ancestry DNA PM SESSION
20 Mar 2020 WEBINAR: Ancestry DNA
20 Mar 2020 HANDS ON COMPUTERS: Ancestry DNA
1 Feb 2020 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Advanced
1 Feb 2020 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Intermediate
11 Jan 2020 LECTURE: Working with Ancestry DNA
11 Jan 2020 GROUP: DNA Research Group - Beginners

Can't find what you're looking for? Search here ...

LOCATIONS

Library 2/379 Kent St, Sydney NSW 2000

Archives/Offices 120 Kent St, Sydney NSW 2000

Gadigal Land

Location map

See our hours of opening for each building.

CONTACT US

Call : +61 2 9247 3953

Email

© 1932 - 2019 Society of Australian Genealogists | Privacy Policy |  Website Design : Advance Association Management

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software