DNA Genealogy Series: Monoparental DNA

Discover Your History with DNA Genealogy: A Lecture Series

Learn how consumer DNA testing can find connections, recent to ancient, that greatly extend your family and genetic history. Session 1 covers types of DNA and patterns of inheritance, forensics, risks, and advice on tests. Session 2 covers autosomal DNA testing to uncover recent family history, ethnicity, and large-scale American migrations. In session 3, mitochondrial and Y DNA reveal ancestors' paths from human origins in Africa, to the Bronze Age, to medieval clans. Bring your own records and genealogical puzzles for discussion after each presentation.

Speaker Bio
Rob Spencer is a Mystic resident and retired Pfizer biochemist and software developer. Genetic genealogy is a hobby that perfectly suits his skills and interests. He is a project admin at Family Tree DNA, presenter at multiple conferences, and author of SNP Tracker. Explore his tools, research reports, and presentations at http://scaledinnovation.com.

Session 3: Monoparental DNA

Mitochondrial DNA and the Y chromosome are passed down exclusively from mothers and fathers, respectively, without dilution or recombination. Their specialized DNA tests extend our reach to human origins 240,000 years ago; we show how anyone can track their own maternal or paternal line from paleolithic Africa to the Fertile Crescent, through the Bronze Age, Roman, and modern eras. DNA has rewritten anthropology and history as illustrated by the impact of the Beaker invasions of western Europe. We conclude with case studies of how testers can connect to specific medieval clans.