Day Two DNA Down Under

Another great day with great information.

From Blaine Bettinger
Genetic Genealogy Ethics
Be proactive not reactive - Educate
Genetic Genealogical Standards.com @ 10/1/15
These are meant as a guideline
Test DNA with consent, preferably in writing and keep a record. Ensure the test taker knows what the test is and talk about what if unexpected results are found.


Shared matches and genetic networks
Group and sub group matches using ancestry dots.

Advanced third party tools
Gedmatch: Tier 1 🛠
Segment search - begin without altering any fields
IMPORTANT...chromosome browsers squish maternal and paternal chromosome results together so only shows one chromosome where there is actually two.
Triangulation can take up to 45mins to run.
Lazarus attempts to recreate dead persons DNA
Phasing - separates DNA into maternal and paternal based on your DNA.
The mapS phasing tool - creates kit for gedmatch for dead people 


From Louise Coakley
Items are now being tested to get DNA from those in the past eg, aerograms, stamps, hair. While currently expensive it is worthwhile to put these items away to test in the future.

The day ended with a great panel discussion on various ethical type scenarios.
Looking forward to day three.

Louise Coakley

Jennie Fairs & Shauna Hicks

Pauleen Cass & Sharn White

Panel: Kerry Farmer; Michelle Patient; Helen Smith;
Brad Argent; Blaine Bettinger; Louise Coakley

Day One DNA Down Under

And so it begins...
What a great start to a three day conference.
Blaine Bettinger is very easy to listen to and his talks very informative!
What little things did I learn?
1.Ethnicity results think of as Biogeographical Estimate due to changes in borders over times.
2. Ethnicity can be quickly lost from the Dna as it is passed down in smaller amounts each generation.
3. Denture adhesive can destroy a DNA testing sample so avoid for 24hrs prior to testing.
4. Working out matching segments can mean you can identify segments by ancestor and use DNA painter to record.
5. Build research trees for your DNA matches but keep them private and unsearchable and clearly identified as Research trees or Q&D tress (Quick and dirty)
6. Always make notes in the notes field in your DNA results so you don't keep rediscovering the same thing.
7. We should be trying to disprove what we think we know, our theories/hypothesis to avoid confirmation bias.
8. If you have more than one kit (your  gedmatch it may be worth paying the $usd 10 for a months access to create a super kit as once done this will stay and you can compare your combined DNA to others
9. DNA painter is a new tool you can upload a gedcom file and use.
10. Identify people you match with using surname triangulation, reverse search pictures from profile pics, wikitree searches, searching Facebook,Twitter,Instagram etc ..
So that's my 10 points from the day!
Looking forward to Day 2.

DNA Downunder - It's almost time

I am really looking forward to DNA Downunder Sydney, hoping to unravel the mysteries of DNA for family history so I know what my results are showing me! I believe you can still attend some of the day sessions in Sydney here is the link https://www.dnadownunder.com/sydney/ 

By all accounts the other states have really enjoyed the talks and they were only for one day!!

Stay tuned I will update what I discover!

In the meantime
Head on over to Geniaus' blog post to read all about the Virtual Genealogical Association Conference,that is to be held November 1st - November 3rd. Best thing is you can attend from the comfort of your home! Click on the link: http://geniaus.blogspot.com/2019/08/virtual-genealogical-association-free.html

Are you aware of these records that are available?The Register of Cases of Bubonic Plague 1900-1908 is available now to the public to view.
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/magazine/bubonic-plague

The webiste home to Irish historic BMD of the GRO. These records now join the indexes that were available. 
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/

DNA - Day 2

So it has been a few days and I have logged back onto GEDMATCH, clicked on my "number" and wow, I have a table full of emails and a lot of numbers!

So now what is the next step?
I think a lot of reading and studying!
This is going to take a while to understand...in the meantime I will share what I find and when!

Pleased I have this done prior to going to the DNA Downunder Conference in Sydney
if you think that you may travel down the DNA path I would highly recommend that you try and attend either one of the DNA Downunder Days in various cities around Australia or come to the conference in Sydney.  You are sure to learn a lot and I am sure if it does not make sense at the time you will have that knowledge when you are trying to understand your DNA.
For more information...
https://www.dnadownunder.com/schedule/

DNA Discovery Journey Begins - Day 1

I will be attending DNA Down Under in just a few weeks and even though I have 6 DNA tests done through FTdna (4 family finder and 2 of these done for MTdna), I have only made contact with a couple of people using the matches and really do not know how to do anymore.

This is now the beginning of my journey to find out more...
Starting with one kit at a time!!

Step One: Download the RAW data   
https://genie1.com.au/how-to-download-your-raw-dna-data/
Step Two: Upload to GEDMATCH
https://genie1.com.au/tips-for-using-gedmatch/

Now I wait to see what happens! It can take 2 days...so I will be back to blog on the results!

Thanks to Louise Coakley Genetic Genealogist for your helpful blog!

Holidays! Memories! Games!

We have just been away for a week, for the first time in 4 years and the first time we were alone with our younger daughter who is 11! This was a great week, time for bonding, activities and games. Now why is this linked to family history? Well on our shopping trip on day one to get food supplies, Coles had "Pick Up Sticks" Wooden ones! Now as a child I had these and played often, not only with my siblings but by myself challenging myself to be able to remove the stick without moving any others. So I bought the box of them much to the excitement of our daughter who could not wait to learn how to play. For almost a week, every night after dinner the three of us would play "pick up sticks" and all enjoyed it!
We also played UNO nightly, read books, did jigsaws and my future paleontologist did her "dig up a dinosaur kits" (plaster of paris that encased various bones of dinosaurs - there were 5 different kits all complete with chisel and hammer) and went for a walk down to the local shops!
It occurred to me during this time just how important family holidays and the sharing of "old" games, no technology past times (jigsaws) were but also capturing the special moments with a quick photograph! 
But also how important it is to capture these times not just on our phones with a picture but to actually go and get it printed, put it in an album and WRITE about the time...and include the instructions for the games played!
I would love for you to comment on your favourite childhood game and how it is played!


But after being away from technology for a week, I have noticed that I have 2 more matches on my recent mtdna tests...so need to see what that is about!
I have no idea what I am doing with dna results and as I am attending DNA downunder in August I need to at least look at results and try and get organised, so I will be blogging step by step on what I am up to and how I go. Four kits have dna done, 2 have now had mtdna done...this should be an interesting adventure!!

Amazing Woman Warrior

As we have just commemorated ANZAC Day and the focus is on World War One plus the fact I did not blog about any women in history during history month, I am aiming to satisfy both with this story found in the Orange Leader through Trove dated 18 March 1918. She would actually leave Russia on a ship bound for America on 18 April 1918!
Although not Australian, I find this story inspiring for what Russian Marie Bockhareva accomplished. 

Read the article here that sparked my interest....

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100960390

It would appear however that some of the facts in the article are not correct, she was beaten by her alcoholic  father and then physically abused by her husband, whom she left. She would rise above all this and become Commander of the Russian Women's Battalion of Death.

Although it says in the article she was illiterate, she actually had an autobiography set down, which you can read here all 339 pages! Digitised thanks to funding by Microsoft!

Yashka, my life as peasant, exile and soldier.

https://archive.org/details/yashkamylifeaspe00bochuoft

I do hope you enjoy the book! I would love to hear what you think of her life in the comments!

So What Did I Learn At Congress!! (This was all done and not published last year! )

Congress is a great place to hear great speakers on great subjects

Paul Milner; Judy G. Russell; Kerry Farmer; Pauleen Cass; Angela Phippen; Helen Smith; Lisa Louise Cooke; Paul Blake; Jill Ball to mention a few!

• There were 620 delegates and 309 pages in the speaker notes pdf that we were sent (what a fantastic resource)
• It was worth the six year wait!
• Society for Australian Genealogists can do an amazing job of organising a Congress!
• There is not another Congress planned as noone has said they will host! Someone needs to!!!!
• The ICC at Darling Harbour make a great morning/afternoon tea!
• Doing a course online does not mean you do not connect to other students! I met up with fellow UTAS and NGIS students.
• Geneabloggers are a great bunch of people!
• In the US you can collect ribbons on your name tag - some lovely Genies had some organised for Congress here - it was fun and has made a lovely keepsake of my first Congress

But what did I learn in relation to the nuts and bolts of genealogy??

• Phillimores Atlas is a must use tool (if I can get a hard copy I will, but it is also available through Ancestry)
• Understand the people who were writing the legal 'stuff' at the time it was written. Find out what the legal 'stuff' meant at the time it was written!
• Google Earth Pro is a wonderful tool and I need to download it 
• Family search is free and has a great app for finding relatives that are near you (within 100mtrs I think) as long as they too have it turned on! Family search has a lot of records you can utilise! We are matter! We want to matter! We do matter! 
• Make your blog a beaut one! Don't post after everyone else has (well I am not keeping that part of my blog up with this post lol). I also learned I need to work a little on the look of my blog!
• DNA should supplement your research and you need to link the DNA back to your research to see where matches really fit in.
• Read other Genies blogs! There are a heap of them out there!!
• Dusty Docs is a great site that I need to explore!
• Meeting up with people I have seen on facebook for a long time can mean that you become real friends! (Hence my facebook friends number has grown a little since the Congress)
• I am blessed and thankful to all the Genies I have met during the last 10 years and now call friends!

Life Gets In The Way....

Let's admit it, when you have a young family time flies...
Last year began so well..and then I dropped off the blog earth! The reason was due in part to my children, one headed overseas mid year for 3 months and the prep assisting in the departure took a bit of time...but simultaneously an elderly cousin died. The cousin had no spouse, no children...just my parents...so I supported them...and time just got away...
Here we are nearly a whole year since my blog post and feeling very down that I never shared what I had learned at Congress....which in all honesty seems almost a lifetime ago..I will see if I can share some notes about that this year.
BUT..this year I have an ambition ... to do more family history wise..to research; blog and be involved...
So to begin I have finally joined a family history society...and now school is underway and programs etc are in place and I know what time I have....I am determined to schedule research and blogging into my time...
Oh and I intended on attending the 3 Day DNA Conference at Castle Hill in August and the 35th Annual Conference NSW & AFHS too!
If you do not know about these 2 exciting events, click on the links!! They are both sure to be exceptional!!
Fingers crossed this is the year I get into gear!
For those who have stayed subscribed - thankyou for your patience...I will get there!!