Select Course Five – Genetics for Genealogists: Fundamentals of DNA Course Five – Genetics for Genealogists: Fundamentals of DNA

“I’m writing to you today to let you know I felt Patti’s course brought everything I’ve learned into harmony and focus. The course was excellent, the instructors all know the subject matter inside-out, and presented in a clear, concise, and understandable manner. I recommend the course to anyone wanting to learn and understand genetic genealogy. I now have a process framework for working through all those cousin matches we find on Ancestry, FTDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritage – and how to make sense of and use GEDmatch, DNA Painter, and DNAGedcom with those testing sites.”

“I think the course, course instructors, and course materials were AWESOME!”

“Excellent course materials, with links to relevant sites and links to additional helpful material.”

“I asked many questions during the period before classes started, during breaks, and during lunch. There was always an instructor available and willing to answer questions.”

Course Five – Genetics for Genealogists: Fundamentals of DNA


  • Registration is now open through Monday July 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern – register here!
  • Maximum: 35 students
  • Virtual classrooms using Zoom
  • All courses come with a digital syllabus
  • Students will receive a digital certificate upon course completion

Course Coordinators

Patti Lee Hobbs, CG® and Peggy S. Jude, MBA

Description

Discover the potential of using DNA testing in genealogy. This course explores all four DNA types essential for enriching genealogical research. Structured sessions instruct about Y DNA, mitochondrial DNA, X DNA, and autosomal DNA. Practical exercises and case studies provide hands-on experience in integrating DNA evidence into family studies. The importance of correlating DNA with documentary evidence to reach more accurate genealogical conclusions is emphasized. Several sessions incorporate the use of DNA tools to help identify, categorize, and correlate your matches. Join us to enhance your understanding and application of DNA in the world of genealogy!

Prerequisites, textbooks, and other student information

Course prerequisites:

There are no DNA education prerequisites for this beginner course. Attendees should be familiar with genealogical research concepts and techniques taught in IGHR’s Methods and Sources (Course 1) and Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies (Course 2).

There will be pre-sessions that will be available to provide an overview of the various testing websites.

Course requirements:

Attendees should take at least one DNA test through AncestryDNA, and ideally have taken a test, or transferred their DNA to options offering a chromosome browser. An additional monitor for side-by-side viewing of material is highly recommended.

Required books:                                                                                                     

None

Recommended books:

None

Course Schedule (All times listed are Eastern Time)

Monday
10:30 – 11:00 Introduction (Hobbs, Jude)
11:00 – 12:15 Genetics for Genealogists (Hobbs)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Patrilineal Lines: Y DNA I (Hobbs)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Patrilineal Lines: Y DNA  (continued) and Mitochondrial DNA (Hobbs)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Case Study and Hands-on Exercises (Hobbs)
 
Tuesday
10:30 – 11:00 Review/Questions (Hobbs, Jude)
11:00 – 12:15 Autosomal DNA Fundamentals I (Hobbs)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Autosomal DNA Fundamentals II (Jude)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Understanding X DNA (Hobbs)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Case Study and Hands-on Exercise (Jude)
 
Wednesday
10:30 – 11:00 DNA Segments and Triangulation Introduction (Hobbs)
11:00 – 12:15 DNA Segments and Triangulation (Hobbs)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Segments and Triangulation: Using the Company Tools (Jude)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 DNA Tools: GEDmatch and others (Jude)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Case Study and Hands-on Exercise (includes DNA Painter) (Hobbs)
 
Thursday
10:30 – 11:00 Review/Questions (Hobbs, Jude)
11:00 – 12:15 Building Match Trees to Solve DNA Problems (K. Powell)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Statistics for Genetic Genealogy including Biogeographical Analysis (Jude)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Clustering (Jude)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Case Study and Hands-on Exercise (includes Leeds Method) (Jude)
 
Friday
10:30 – 11:45 Methodologies in Problem Solving with DNA (Hobbs)
11:45 –12:00 Break
12:00 – 1:15 Tangled Trees: Navigating Endogamy, Pedigree Collapse, and Multiple Relationships (K. Powell)
1:15 – 1:30 Break
1:30 – 2:45 DNA and the Genealogical Proof Standard (Hobbs)

Course Faculty