Genetics, Genealogy, and the language of DNA - 2 part podcast

[get these nets]

American Origin Stories is a podcast about our journey discovering lost ancestry, identity, and cultural connection. Host Chauneice Davis Yeagley is a lawyer, writer, and storyteller.
Ep is 30 minutes long
(guests discuss the topic from start to 10:30 and from 21 to the end)

Foundations

Episode 13 - Know Your Resources: Genetics, Genealogy & the Language of DNA (Part 1)

When tracing your ancestry, it’s important to know your resources, especially when we are talking about genetic history. It’s important to know what options you have and how to assess them once identified. To help us in this quest, we will have two guests discuss 1) the fundaments of genetic testing and 2) the components of genetic genealogy. Geneticist Dr. Janina Jeff, and genetic genealogist Shannon Christmas will discuss the dangers, mechanics and use of genealogical DNA testing.



Our two guests

Dr. Janina M. Jeff is a STEAM-activist, educator, motivational speaker, and podcaster. She is also the first African American to graduate with a PhD in Human Genetics from Vanderbilt University.

Shannon Christmas, is an experienced genealogist specializing in genetic, colonial American, and African-American genealogy in Virginia and the Carolinas. He serves as a 23andMe Ancestry Ambassador, administrator of The Captain Thomas Graves of Jamestown Autosomal DNA Project, and as a co-administrator of The Hemings-Jefferson-Wayles-Eppes Autosomal DNA Project

 

[get these nets]

American Origin Stories is a podcast about our journey discovering lost ancestry, identity, and cultural connection. Host Chauneice Davis Yeagley is a lawyer, writer, and storyteller.
Ep is 32 minutes long

When tracing your ancestry it's important to know your resources. If you are going to have your genetic data analyzed for genealogical purposes, you should consider the history of medical testing, and research the specific tests available--including how they analyze your sample, how they will deliver your results, and what they may do with your information in the future.

In this episode, Dr. Jeff tells us more about the mechanics of genetic testing and what makes black genes (those tracing back to Africa) unique. Shannon Christmas helps us understand what to look for when taking genetics tests for genealogical purposes, and what pitfalls to avoid (including specific companies that overpromise and underdeliver.