Please note – the BCGS Library will be closed
April 7th, Saturday – so that BCGS volunteers may attend the BCGS Annual Seminar featuring Mary Kathryn Kozy.
April 21st, Saturday – roads around the Library will be closed all day for the Vaisakhi Parade.
ROOTSFINDER
Rootsfinder has the latest DNA ‘tool kit’, designed to help visualize and organize your genetic genealogy information. All free for now. https://www.rootsfinder.com/ You will want to upload a GEDcom and as well some DNA data from GEDMatch. At the meeting this month, we discussed using GedMatch. I feel it’s well worth paying for the additional GEDMatch tools.
See a descriptive Rootsfinder video here: https://www.rootsfinder.com/blog/announcing-experimental-dna-tools/ Rootsfinder is a family history tree website offering hints from a number of sources. Rootsfinder gained an Honourable Mention for 2017 from Tamura Jones for its own valid GEDCOM files. https://www.tamurajones.net/GeneAwards2017.xhtml
DNA PAINTER
Try out DNA Painter too: https://dnapainter.com/ This includes the latest shared cM tool, a version of Blaine Bettinger’s shared cM project.
DNA DO-OVER – Facebook
No matter how new or how experienced you are with genetic genealogy, taking time to review your goals, methods and results is always useful. Thomas MacEntee started a DNA Do-Over Facebook group this year. Now it’s over 1,200 members strong. Here’s the Facebook DNA Do-Over link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dnadoover
And here’s the group’s list of featured topics each month in 2018: https://abundantgenealogy.com/dna-topics-2018
DNA Q and A – New Book
There’s a new DNA book out, DNA Q and A: Real Questions from Real People about Genetic Genealogy by Andrew Lee and Noel Devon Lee. (paper and Kindle). I do recommend following Thomas at GeneaBargains: https://www.genealogybargains.com He will keep you updated on any free offers and sales for DNA testing, books like this one, webinars, etc.
The next BC Genealogical Society General Meeting is Wednesday, 14 February 2018, 7:30 pm at the Danish Lutheran Church (Lower Hall), 6010 Kincaid Street in Burnaby.
Download Directions and map here(.pdf)
After the business meeting – Hear about “Buried Treasure at the BCGS Library”, and, if time, there will be a Genealogical Cocktail Party.
Upcoming Events
SAVE THE DATE — the BCGS DNA SEMINAR featuring Mary Kathryn Kozy will be Saturday, April 7th in Burnaby.
Early Bird tickets available now; details on the 2018 Seminar page.
BCGS MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL — You may renew for 2018 at this meeting, or right now with PayPal on the BCGS website, or by mail –
c/o BCGS Membership Committee,
BC Genealogical Society,
P.O. Box 88054, Lansdowne Mall,
Richmond, BC, CANADA
V6X 3T6
DNA GROUP NEWS – January 2018
Recently there are many changes to DNA websites and a number of DNA tools are new or enhanced.
DNA DO-OVER
No matter how new or how experienced you are with genetic genealogy, taking time to review your goals, methods and results is always useful. Thomas MacEntee started a DNA Do-Over Facebook group this month. Now it’s 1,190 members strong. Here’s the Facebook DNA Do-Over link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dnadoover
And here’s the group’s list of featured topics each month in 2018: https://abundantgenealogy.com/dna-topics-2018
I do recommend following Thomas at GeneaBargains: https://www.genealogybargains.com He will keep you updated on any free offers and sales for DNA testing, books, webinars, etc.
MYHERITAGE
MyHeritage has made a number of improvements to their DNA services. These apply to both those who’ve tested at MyHeritage and those who’ve uploaded their DNA data to MyHeritage for free.
“…more accurate DNA Matches; more plentiful matches (about 10x more); fewer false positives; more specific and more accurate relationship estimates; and indications on lower confidence DNA Matches to help focus research efforts. We also added the long-requested Chromosome Browser feature…”
See the announcement here: https://blog.myheritage.com/2018/01/major-updates-and-improvements-to-myheritage-dna-matching
You can still upload results to MyHeritage for free: https://www.myheritage.com/dna/upload
Debbie Kennett at Cruwys News has a positive review of the MyHeritage changes here: https://cruwys.blogspot.ca/2018/01/a-chromosome-browser-and-new-matching.html
ANCESTRY
Ir you have tested at Ancestry, the MedBetterDNA, a Chrome Browser add-on, offers additional functionality. Kitty Cooper’s Blog has an overview here: http://blog.kittycooper.com/2018/01/an-awesome-ancestry-add-on/
Join Blaine Bettinger’s Facebook group, “Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques!”, if you want to keep up with all the new tools. But, be warned, this is a high traffic and high energy group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/geneticgenealogytipsandtechniques/?hc_ref=ARS2PTxFeGXIzsJu1do3tOYhiEzugsVxmKHI8oZB7d6LfcYdOOu6p51seC2erMa4z40
DNA RELATED WEBINARS
DNA is a hot topic right now. Most webinars are free or free for a limited time. The GeneaWebinars calendar has these coming up:
Tues. 30th January – Understanding DNA matching technology at MyHeritage. (A Legacy webinar; free live and for the first week.)
Sun. 18th February – Second Life Virtual Genealogy Society’s DNA Study Group will meet in Second Life.
And there will be four DNA Legacy webinars at least in March. Keep an eye out for these and more.
GeneaWebinars: http://blog.geneawebinars.com/p/calendar.html
MEETINGS & EVENTS
The next BCGS DNA Group Meeting will be Tues. 27th February at the BCGS Library, 1-3 pm. Topic TBA.
If you are interested in attending a small workshop, contact me : diane_rogers @ shaw.ca
The BCGS DNA Seminar featuring Mary Kathryn Kozy will be Saturday, April 7th, 2018.Tickets now for sale. See the BCGS 2018 Seminar page for more information: http://www.bcgs.ca/?page_id=2511
Further Afield
Abbotsford Stake Family History Day, Saturday, April 28th. http://www.abbotsfordfamilyhistory.com
Friday, September 28th – Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, Blaine Bettinger will be speaking at the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society’s “Harvest Your Family Tree” Conference. http://www.kdgs.ca/
#genchatDNA
If you’re on Twitter, catch the next #genchatDNA one-hour get together, this time with Daniel Horowitz from MyHeritage – topic: DNA, Q & A and “The Chromosome Browser”.
February 10, 2018 – 12 noon Pacific time. https://twitter.com/genchatDNA