This is a checklist I originally prepared for the Dec 2016 WCGS presentation - Enhance your Genealogy Research with DNA Testing. Time flies and so much in the genetic genealogy world has changed so quickly, but I think this stands the test of time as a good basic checklist for beginners. - CD
Enhance your Genealogy Research with DNA Testing
Progress Tracker for DNA Study
Getting Started:
_ Identify your need, question, or line of descent that needs proving.
_ Identify your subject or subjects.
_ Choose the appropriate tests and company.
_ Order, complete, return, wait.
While you wait:
_ Build your tree back at least 4 generation - 5 or 6 if possible. Also, build it "wide" at the level of your grandparents and great grandparents. Include all siblings, spouses, and descendants that you can. It really helps when you are looking at lines that may descend from one of those female ancestors whose name gets lost in time.
_ Watch the 5 part Bettinger webinar series, Foundations in DNA, at Legacy Family Tree (subscription service, a $9.95 investment - bonus you can watch unlimited webinars - all you find interesting during your month subscription). https://familytreewebinars.com/blainebettinger
_ Locate and work through your testing site tutorials. (see DNA Links Handout)
_ Create a Gedmatch.com account for additional tools to study your results.
When your results return:
_ Spend some time studying your top matches, their trees, and surname lists, to determine your common ancestors.
_ Upoad your raw data to Gedmatch for study and comparison. Gedmatch is free and offers some powerful tools for comparison. It is a much larger match pool too.
_ Keep good notes about matches and matches in common. You will be looking at so much data that you will need to capture it while it is fresh in your mind. One Note and Excel will help with this.
_ Have fun while you learn!
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