Advanced Genetic Genealogy Book

I should let you all know, in case you missed it, there is a new book on DNA which just came out. There are several beginner and intermediate books on DNA for genealogy already available. But to my knowledge this is the only one so far focused on advanced topics. There are 14 chapters, each by a different author with lots of genetic genealogy experience. I wrote Chapter 1: Lessons Learned from Triangulating a Genome. The Editor, Debbie Parker Wayne, and I were at the FamilyTreeDNA Genetic Genealogy Conference in Houston, TX on 23 March when we found out the book was available on Amazon. So Debbie made an impromptu announcement with the proof copy she had…

Pictured: me, Debbie (Editor & Chapter 7), and Pattie Hobbs (Chapter 10)

Here is a picture of the front and back of the book:

Edited 4/6/2019 to add list of Chapters and Authors:

1. Lessons Learned from Triangulating a Genome, Jim Bartlett, PE
2. Visual Phasing Methodology and Techniques, Blaine T. Bettinger, JD, PhD
3. X-DNA Techniques and Limitations, Kathryn J. Johnston, MD
4. Y-DNA Analysis for a Family Study, James M. Owston, EdD
5. Unknown and Misattributed Parentage Research, Melissa A. Johnson, CG
6. The Challenge of Endogamy and Pedigree Collapse, Kimberly T. Powell
7. Parker Study: Combining atDNA & Y-DNA, Debbie Parker Wayne, CG, CGL
8. Would You Like Your Data Raw or Cooked? Ann Turner, MD
9. Drowning in DNA? The Genealogical Proof Standard Tosses a Lifeline, Karen Stanbary, CG
10. Correlating Documentary and DNA Evidence to Identify an Unknown Ancestor, Patricia Lee Hobbs, CG
11. Writing about, Documenting, and Publishing DNA Test Results, Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS
12. Ethical Underpinnings of Genetic Genealogy , Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
13. Uncovering Family Secrets: The Human Side of DNA Testing, Michael D. Lacopo, DVM
14. The Promise and Limitations of Genetic Genealogy, Debbie Kennett, MCG

Glossary

Recommended Reading

Index

[99B] Segment-ology: Advanced Genetic Genealogy Book by Jim Bartlett 20190406

A Segment-ology TIDBIT

A number of folks have asked me about the different Clustering Programs, so I thought I’d post some information to get you started.

Clustering analyzes your InCommonWith (ICW) Matches at a company, and groups Matches who are ICW each other the most. Each Match in a Cluster will be ICW with most (but usually not all) of the other Matches in the Cluster. With Cluster groups of 4 or more Matches, they tend to group on a specific Ancestor, which would impute the same Ancestor to every Match in the Cluster. NB: this is not a guarantee, but it appears to work almost all the time.

Clustering Programs:

Leeds Method by Dana Leeds (free)

https://www.danaleeds.com/ see the Video and updated methods

This began as a color coding method of grouping close Matches at AncestryDNA into four columns, one for each grandparent. It has been expanded.

Genetic Affairs by Evert-Jon “EJ” Blom (several spreadsheets free, then a small fee)

http://www.geneticaffairs.com/ Register first, then log in

– automates the retrieval of new genetic Matches from 23andMe, FTDNA and AncestryDNA to a periodic email; and the AutoCluster tool will cluster close/large Matches

DNAGedcom Client by Rob Worthen ($5/mo fee; $50/yr)

Register here to start: https://www.dnagedcom.com/

– log onto your DNA company, and download Match and ICW files

– use Collins” Leeds Methos 3D to run cluster report

Shared Clustering by Jonathan Brecher (free)

https://github.com/jonathanbrecher/sharedclustering/wiki/Quick-start

– installs program on your computer

-currently need to download Match and ICW files at DNAGedcom Client

MyHeritage – offers a free report by Genetic Affairs!

GEDmatch – offering a Genetic Affairs type report soon! Under Tier 1 ($10/mo fee)

My recommendations include:

– Use a large threshold (80cM to 200cM) first to get the hang of it. This will only include your closest cousins.

– If offered, use an upper threshold of 1000cM or so, to cull out parents, siblings, children, aunt/uncle – they only appear in one Cluster anyway, and don’t really add any value in most cases.

– Reducing the threshold will increase the number of Clusters, and those Clusters will tend to form on more distant Ancestors.

NB: Some additional Clustering Programs and ideas may show up in the comments below. I’ve used all of the programs above. I have also continued to do D I Y Clustering, outlined in a different Segment-ology blog post.

[22AF] Segment-ology: Clustering Programs TIDBIT by Jim Bartlett 20190404