Tracing Your Ancestors Using DNA: A Guide for Family Historians

Tracing Your Ancestors

by Graham S. Holton (Editor)

DNA research is one of the most important and rapidly advancing areas in modern science and the practical use of DNA testing in genealogy is one of its most exciting applications. Yet there is no recent British publication in this field. That is why this accessible, wide-ranging introduction is so valuable. It offers a clear and practical way into the subject, explaining the scientific discoveries and techniques and illustrating with case studies how it can be used by genealogists to gain an insight into their ancestry.

The subject is complex and perhaps difficult for traditional genealogists to understand but, with the aid of this book, novices who are keen to take advantage of it will be able to interpret test results and use them to help answer genealogical questions which cannot be answered by documentary evidence alone. It will also appeal to those with some experience in the field because it places the practical application of genetic genealogy within a wider context, highlighting its role as a genealogical tool and suggesting how it can be made more effective.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Genetics, How To

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Graham S. Holton is principal tutor in the University of Strathclyde's Postgraduate Programme in Genealogical Studies, co-author of Discover Your Scottish Ancestry: Internet and Traditional Resources and leader of the Battle of Bannockburn and Declaration of Arbroath Family History Projects.

Reviews

[Robert Slack · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that this is the first book I've read on this subject makes it a difficult book for me to review as I have no comparisons. The two major thoughts on the book I was left with were: (1) this is a subject that is considerably more complex than I had previously thought; (2) the quality of material covered is well structured, comprehensive and authoritative. It's highly probable that for a high proportion of DNA testers the depth of material here would not be of interest and might well be largely incomprehensible (as some of it was to me). Its theme is the science and implications involved in the using of DNA as a tool for the family historian. There is no mistaking the fact that large scale commercially available DNA testing and databases have brought about a revolution in what can now be achieved when investigating our ancestry, possibilities that previously were inconceivable. Here, in this book, is an enlightened window on what is happening now in the field of DNA and what the future may hold. The book delivers a solid grounding in the subject. A reading of this book almost certainly won't answer all your questions on this subject but will leave you more informed and better equipped to pursue your objectives. And here is the key reason why questions may not be answered: each person comes at this subject with their own priorities and objectives. If it has a flaw, it is what I sense to be a common flaw of comprehension in this subject area, in that it could have given stronger emphasis to the fact, perhaps obvious, that our DNA is not something we individually own but is something shared with our close relatives. We cannot 'protect' our DNA alone, as we do not alone have possession of our DNA. All decisions about our DNA need to be considered collectively with close family as no action, and any potential consequences, can be deemed as isolated to any single person. This is touched upon in this book but could perhaps be more openly dealt with, the underlying message to everyone being each of us lacks the means to singlehandedly secure privacy and control of our DNA. There is a significant responsibility on each and everyone of us to be open and transparent in our actions when it comes to what we do with 'our' DNA.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a beginners guide to how to use DNA as part of your genealogical research, as I was, then this book is probably not the book for you. Whilst it has given me some ideas to pursue and areas to follow up on, it was incredibly technical and at times difficult to follow.
If you are a genealogist, or have already got an idea of how to use DNA, then this might work better for you. But I found it very dense!

[Robert Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and informative glimpse into an emerging aspect of genealogy.

[Denis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic view of the practice

Using dna to support family history research and introduces complex (and sometimes challenging) issues.
This book guides readers through the techniques of using DNA results to help resolve family tree gaps, but also describes how whole cans of worms can be opened up.