Confession time: I have the hardest time understanding genetic genealogy. I have spent hours in seminars at various conferences. I even had a one-on-one consultation about my DNA results with genetic genealogist and consultant Diahan Southard, Your DNA Guide.
For some reason, these concepts are hard for me to grasp and retain. As a result, I do very little with my DNA results. I occasionally check matches to my autosomal test (which I did through Ancestry DNA and transferred the results to Family Tree DNA) but that’s pretty much it. Every year I hope (but don’t plan) that this is going to be the year that I harvest the power of DNA in my genealogy research.
An opportunity to learn more was just handed to me on a silver platter. Diahan Southard is coming to St. Louis for a Summer Speaker Series event put on by the St. Louis Genealogical Society on July 28. I just registered. (If you’re in St. Louis and interested in going, today July 10, is the early-bird deadline. Tomorrow the price goes up by $10.)
I know what a great speaker Diahan is and it couldn’t be more convenient for me to go. So I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to hear her speak. (Plus Diahan holds a special place in my heart because she was one of the first people to consent to being interviewed for my How They Do It series.) I’ll be attending her talks on July 28 with an open and curious mind and I’m hoping that they will help me incorporate more genetic genealogy into my research.
If you’re in St. Louis and going, please let me know so we can meet!
Unmodified photo by Alf Melvin via Flickr. Used under Creative Commons License.
I understand. I have had my DNA done by three organizations (I paid for one and the other two I won as door prizes). I have attended a few seminars and bought a few books on the subject matter. I still have not found the energy to dive into it. Good luck on attending the seminar.
Thank you, Jerry! I’m hoping something will click and when it does I’ll talk about it on the blog!
Wish I could be there! I’m sure it will be a great talk.
I wish you could be there too! I’ll miss sitting with you. Looking forward to seeing you at the Missouri State Genealogical Association’s conference in Columbia in August.
DITTO!!! I’ve had my DNA tested at 3 companies, been to multiple seminars, downloaded videos and still think it is rocket science! I think I don’t spend enough time actually working with it to fully grasp it and then I am away from it for so long that I have to relearn when I finally log back in to do something. I am really smart so it shouldn’t be this difficult!!! 🙂 I bet that most of the people who really get it are working with it on a regular basis! Wish I lived near St. Louis!!!
You’re making me feel better, Sue! Thanks for commenting.