"Finally, in the rapidly evolving field of genetic genealogy an up-to-date resource is here! A Genetic Genealogy Handbook: The Basics and Beyond provides genealogists with the knowledge and confidence to use DNA testing for family research. The book guides genealogists in understanding various tests and determining what DNA segments came from which ancestor. The book explains how DNA testing helps when written records stop and discusses how testing proves or disprove oral family history. Learn which tests help adoptees; understand why you resemble your relatives and how testing can connect you with cousins you never knew. Discover how to encourage potential cousins to test and learn guidelines for becoming a project administrator, genetic genealogy speaker or facilitator for your genealogical society’s DNA interest group.
A Genetic Genealogy Handbook: The Basics and Beyond helps experienced and fledgling researchers become genetic genealogists able to use DNA testing to resolve genealogical roadblocks."
Since starting research into my family history, I have taken Autosomal DNA tests for genealogy which has enabled me to identify and confirm relationships to several 1st to 4th cousins and extend my family tree. So, I recognise the value of this technology in supplementing documentary and oral evidence when undertaking genealogy research.
"Genetic Genealogy: The Basics and Beyond" by Emily D. Aulicino is an excellent introduction to DNA testing for family history research covering the terminology, types of tests available (Y-DNA, Mitochondrial, Autosomal, X-Chromosome) and how each is used, the pros and cons of the technology, strategies for testing as well as when to test and interestingly, situations where you shouldn't consider undertaking DNA testing.
Some of the science covered in the book is quite involved, but it is a valuable resource and reference for family historians and genealogists.
Emily Aulicino is known by many of us at ISOGG ( International Society Genetic Genealogy),and is known as devoted to her research. What I know NOW is that Emily devoted an extraordinary amount of time and effort on the terrific detail that is in this book.I have been "doing" Genetic Genealogy for a long time but I got some very important tips and pointers from this fine book.It is extremely readable, understandable and cohesive.
I learned that I was confused about "upstream" and "downstream" SNPS as well as which laboratories discovered certain SNPS. As a surname group administrator of 5 groups, I needed to learn more about the haplogroup families besides what an STR is and which SNP is terminal Thanks Emily!
Something good here for testers at all levels. I am recommending it to my groups,CoAdmins and new testers alike.
Lots of useful information but also made me realize I don’t want to go in this direction. I am more interested in what life was like in my ancestors lifetime.
As administrator of two yDNA profiles and frustrated that one of them has yielded no matches in several years, I decided to learn more about genetic testing. Genetic Genealogy: The Basics and Beyond by Emily Aulicino (Authorhouse, 2014) is an introduction to what tests are available, what companies provide the tests, and how the results are reported.
Because genetic testing has its own vocabulary, the author spends some time offering relatively simple explanations for the terminology. That is a strength of this book because many family historians seem to be put off by the complex of similar sounding but different meaning words. The author also provides good explanations of the tests for readers lacking a background in biology, genetics, physics, and chemistry. For me, however, it was Aulicino's explanation of what to do with the test results that was most useful. I think I'll go back over the results of the two samples I administer and see if I can't squeeze more information from them, then apply some of the interpretive suggestions from the book.
Genetic Genealogy is a good introduction to DNA basics for family history research. It will take you beyond the basics as well, and is packed with practical information, tips, and guides for your own research and presentations. Good read!