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DNA Testing in Genealogy
It used to be that you could not "prove" relations in genealogy, only hope you had guessed right. With DNA testing, you can finally take that extra step!
Let's say that back in the 1800s you think that you came from the John Smith family - a guy that had 7 children named A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. You think that you are related through the E line, but there just aren't any records that far back to indicate who Es parents were or where E was born. So you only have the name E Smith, and the hope that this E Smith connects back to the John Smith family.
Now let's say that in your research you came across another genealogist who has proven he is related to G. Smith. He was able to get birth records and marriage records for G Smith and knows for sure that G Smith was John Smith's child.
So if you could only show that you were related to this other genealogist, in a DNA comparison, it would show that your two lines really did connect at John Smith and your research could continue from there.
There are many DNA testing companies that now work with or even specialize in DNA genealogy. One of these is FamilyTreeDNA.com but there are many others as well. It doesn't involve blood or needles or anything like that. Just order the kit for around $150. You get in essence a toothbrush that you run along the inside of your cheek. It doesn't hurt. Send in the toothbrush, and from those cheek cells, they can compare it against the other person's and let you know how and if you are related!
If you've really hit a brick wall, this can be the perfect way to get you unstuck and moving along. It's a lot cheaper than flying around the country doing painstaking research, too!
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Note - Lisa Shea wrote this content for the genealogy site at BellaOnline.com - you might still find this content there as well. That's fine :) I gave permission!
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