“Genetic Genealogy for the Professional Genealogist”

Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D.

7 November–14 November 2015

Standard $69.99
Plus $99.99

Registration is closed for this course.

Genetic genealogy is becoming an increasingly common tool for even the most basic genealogical research, and more than 2 million people have undergone DNA testing. As a result, there is a growing demand for genealogists who can understand and apply DNA test results. Despite this demand, there are only a small number of experienced genetic genealogy consultants.

Together we will review the aspects of Y-DNA, mtDNA, and autosomal DNA testing that are most commonly encountered by genetic genealogy consultants. We will also look at the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) and how DNA can be incorporated into traditional genealogical research. It is also important to understand some of the logistics of incorporating DNA testing and analysis into your business, including how to find DNA clients (or encouraging your clients to add DNA testing), how to access or manage your client’s (or your cousin’s!) test results, how to contact your client’s matches, and how to transfer an account, among other topics. Finally, we will analyze how to best organize and construct DNA reports, including how to cite DNA test results.

Although the course is directed to genealogists working with clients, any genealogist who takes this course will benefit from learning how to best organize their results, incorporate DNA and traditional records, and write detailed reports.

Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is an intellectual property attorney by day and a genetic genealogist by night. In 2007 he started The Genetic Genealogist (www.thegeneticgenealogist.com), one of the earliest blogs on the topic. For the past eight years, it has been his mission to bridge the gap between traditional genealogy and genetic genealogy. He has been interviewed and quoted on personal genomics topics in Newsweek, New Scientist, Wired, and others. He authored I Have the Results of My Genetic Genealogy Test, Now What? in 2008, which is distributed by Family Tree DNA to all of their new customers. An update to the ebook is in the works.

Blaine frequently authors articles and gives presentations to educate others about the use of DNA to explore their ancestry. He is an instructor for genetic genealogy courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research, and Family Tree University. Blaine was also recently elected to the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society’s Board of Trustees, and graduated from ProGen Study Group 21 in 2015.

Course Schedule (all times U. S. Eastern)

7 November 2015

• 11:00am: “Genetic Genealogy for the Professional Genealogist”: An introduction to the common – and not-so-common – issues encountered by professional genealogists offering DNA services, including how to properly manage client expectations, how to handle unexpected results, and much more.
• 1:00pm: “DNA Education”: How can the professional genealogist educate himself or herself about the fundamentals of genetic genealogy? How do you stay on top of the latest developments in the field? Where do you go for help?

14 November 2015

• 11:00am: “Logistics of DNA Consulting”: An analysis of how to incorporate DNA test results and analysis into your business, including how to access or manage your client’s results, how to contact your client’s matches, and more.
• 1:00pm: “DNA and the Client Report”: An analysis of how to organize and construct DNA reports for your clients, with examples.

Plus Session (to be scheduled):

“DNA and the Client Report: Part II”: A review of sample client reports prepared by students using supplied DNA test results.

Registration is closed for this course.