Genetic Genealogy: DNA for Newbies and Wannabes

25 Wednesday Oct 2023

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Wednesday, Nov. 15th at 1:30pm in-person at the Bristol Township Senior Center, 2501 Bath Road, Bristol, PA

Ever wonder what AncestryDNA is all about? Have you created a family tree and want to try using DNA to expand it? Are you wondering if you need to trade in your lederhosen?

Genetic/Forensic Genealogist Cathy Ivins will present an Introductory DNA program to help you determine the right test and testing company for your specific wants and needs, whether you are a “Newbie” and need help understanding results or a “Wannabe” curious what a DNA test can do for you, including:
• Starting or expanding your Family Tree
• Finding cousins or other family members
• Connecting and collaborating with matches
• Learning your ethnicity predictions
• Helping to solve a biological family mystery
• Learning genetic predispositions or carrier risks
• Learning the difference between Autosomal DNA, Y-DNA and Mitochondrial DNA testing.
• Comparing the big 4 testing companies: AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTree DNA, and MyHeritage

Don’t worry – you do NOT need to know the science behind the test! Handouts will be available.

Cost: $5 at the door • FREE to current members of Bristol Twp. Senior Center

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/Dna4btsc

mtDNA Haplogroup I1b – Daughters of Iris

12 Friday May 2023

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My newest tattoo represents my love for deep ancestry, as well as a tribute to all my maternal moms for Mother’s Day 2023. My mitochondrial haplogroup is I1b known as “Daughters of Iris”. I have traced my direct maternal line from the Bronx NY to Brancaleone in Calabria Italy with my 3rd Great-Grandmother Antonia. From there it ventures back to Russia after about 20,000 years (connecting with Haplogroup “N”), then down into the Ukraine to Egypt, and finally back to Mitochondrial Eve (Haplogroup “L”) in southern Africa, our common ancestor, over 200,000 years. Family Tree DNA is where I tested my mtDNA and joined group projects. I learned of a common ancestor whose remains were found in the Kapova Cave in Russia along with Cave Art from the Bronze Age.

Genetic Genealogy Lectures I and II

22 Sunday Jan 2023

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Upcoming Genetic Genealogy Lectures in two parts, on Zoom for Bucks County Genealogical Society:

Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. EDT

• Genetic Genealogy I: DNA for Newbies and Wannabes – In this introductory program to genetic genealogy, I will take you step by step in determining the right test (Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA, or Autosomal DNA) and testing company (Ancestry, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage) for your wants and needs, as well as decoding the mysterious results. Whether you are a NEWBIE and need help understanding your results and what to do with them, or a WANNABE curious what DNA can do for your genealogy research, tune in on May 6th! Visit https://www.bucksgen.org/index.php/bcgs-programs for registration information.

Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. EDT

• Genetic Genealogy II: Digging into the DNA Toolbox – So you’ve done your DNA… now what? In a follow up to last month’s introductory program on Genetic Genealogy, I will present a case study to learn how digging into a DNA toolbox – using spreadsheets, third-party sites, and tools – solved a paternity mystery, and which will help you use your DNA results to expand your family tree, break through a brick wall, and identify matches. Includes GedMatch, Chromosome browsers and painters, What Are The Odds (WATO), and more. Visit https://www.bucksgen.org/index.php/bcgs-programs for registration information.

Happy to report both lectures were very well received and rated “Excellent”! Contact me at Ivinsgen@gmail.com to book a program.

The Hunt for Biodad

22 Friday Jul 2022

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It’s been an amazing 6 year ride, discovering a non-paternity event for a loved one, then solving the mystery, to uniting him with his biological family from NJ to Puerto Rico. Genetic genealogy was key, but basic genealogy skills were necessary too. Read about the process in the following articles:

• The Hunt for Biodad – February 2021 – Bucks County Genealogical Society Newsletter
• The Hunt for Biodad Part 2 – July 2021 – Bucks County Genealogical Society Newsletter
• “Together At Last” – Fall 2021 Bucks County Herald Senior Living

I’ll be presenting a program in Nov. 2022 for the Central Jersey Genealogy Club: “Digging Into the DNA Toolbox” on utilizing your DNA results, based on the process of finding “Biodad”, including tools and results from AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, DNA Painter, Gedmatch and more.

Newbie Genealogists

30 Friday Aug 2019

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Did you know that researching your family history can cost you NOTHING but your time!

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  • Ancestry.com is free to use at most libraries for searching. You cannot create a tree at a library but you can search records!
  • FamilySearch.org is the next largest genealogy database – and guess what – it’s FREE! Just create a free username and password. You can even create a tree there.
  • Want to learn more? Visit www.bucksgen.org and click on “beginners” on the left column. There you will find a video I created which walks you through how and why we do genealogy. And the page has all the links you need to get started.
  • Lastly – join a genealogy society near you! There is nothing better than learning from others. Good luck!