Ready to make better use of DNA evidence in your family history research?
Whether you’re planning your first DNA test or already have a long list of DNA matches, this practical course will help you understand your results and use them to explore genealogical questions. You’ll build a foundation in genetic genealogy, learn to use testing-company and third-party tools, and develop strategies for combining DNA evidence with traditional genealogical research.
Through lessons, examples, and practical exercises, you’ll learn to:
- Understand DNA inheritance and testing options, including the differences between autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-DNA tests and how each can contribute to genealogical research.
- Make sense of your DNA matches by analyzing shared DNA, evaluating possible relationships, and identifying connections among matches.
- Use testing-company tools effectively at AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, 23andMe, and FamilyTreeDNA to organize and analyze your results.
- Explore third-party tools and research strategies to evaluate relationship hypotheses and identify promising avenues for further research.
- Combine DNA evidence with historical records to evaluate family relationships, address conflicting evidence, and support genealogical conclusions.
- Apply sound research and ethical practices when documenting DNA evidence, communicating findings, and working with sensitive family information.
Designed for genealogists who are new to DNA analysis or want to make more effective use of their test results, this six-month, self-paced course builds from foundational concepts to practical research applications.
DNA testing can provide valuable clues about family relationships, but interpreting those results requires an understanding of both genetic inheritance and genealogical research methods.
This course introduces the science behind genetic genealogy, including how autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-DNA are inherited and how different DNA tests can help answer genealogical questions. Students will explore the features of major testing companies and learn strategies for organizing DNA matches, evaluating shared DNA amounts, analyzing groups of related matches, and identifying possible family connections.
As students progress, they’ll gain experience with third-party tools for analyzing DNA evidence and developing relationship hypotheses. The lessons emphasize combining DNA results with documentary evidence, evaluating research findings, and documenting and communicating genealogical conclusions.
The course also addresses important ethical considerations, including privacy, informed consent, and unexpected DNA discoveries, and introduces research strategies for identifying unknown parents and other previously unidentified family relationships.
Through guided examples and practical assignments, students will develop the skills to use DNA evidence more confidently, critically, and effectively in their genealogical research.
This course is designed for genealogists who want to understand how DNA testing can support their family history research. It’s particularly well-suited for those who:
- Are considering DNA testing and want to understand their options.
- Have received DNA results but aren’t sure how to interpret their matches.
- Have some experience with DNA tools but want a more systematic approach to analyzing results.
- Want to combine DNA evidence with traditional genealogical research to explore difficult research questions.
No previous experience analyzing DNA results is required, although familiarity with basic genealogical research methods is helpful.
Angie Bush, MS, is a Fellow of the National Genealogical Society and a senior research manager with AncestryProGenealogists, the professional research division of Ancestry. Angie spent several years working in biotech while pursuing her interest in genealogy. With the introduction of autosomal DNA testing, she combined her two loves into one career. Angie is known for her work on unknown parentage cases, but her favorite research is solving “brick-wall” cases using a combination of traditional records and genetic evidence.
Access your course anytime, anywhere using a computer or tablet with an internet connection. All course content—including lessons, examples, exercises, and quizzes—is cloud-based, requiring no software downloads or installations.
Your registration provides a personal, nonexclusive, nontransferable license to access the course materials for your individual educational use only. This license is strictly for individual use and cannot be purchased for or shared with members of any group, organization, library, society, or institution. Each person wishing to access the course must purchase an individual license. All coursework must be completed independently.
The Continuing Genealogical Studies series offers flexible, self-paced online courses designed to fit your schedule. Whether you’re balancing work, volunteer commitments, or personal obligations, you can complete the coursework when it’s most convenient for you. You control your learning journey and set the pace that works best for your needs.
Your course access begins on the date of enrollment and continues for six months. Need more time? Paid extension options are available by contacting the NGS Course Administrator.
You’ll receive an automatic email with course details confirming your registration and a link to access the course.
All purchases of courses are final. No refunds or credits are available.
