Advanced DNA and Genetic Genealogy

Optional Print Course Material: Genealogy Ethical Guidelines and Standards

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Whether you are a hobby genealogist, society member, serious researcher, or a professional genealogist, ethics affect your work. Adherence to ethical standards as they apply to your research and your interactions with others should be of concern to all researchers. Genealogists are faced with diverse ethical decisions in their research including black sheep ancestors, adoption, non-paternal events, and revealing family secrets. This course begins by looking at what is ethics in genealogy and the history of genealogical ethics and continues by exploring ethical considerations when sharing your genealogy online and in print, DNA testing, and while visiting libraries and archives. Ethical standards for professionals will also be explored including interacting with clients and the public.

Course Length: 7 weeks

Optional Print Course Material: DNA: Special Circumstances - Adoptees and Unknown Parentage

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

NOTE: There is a lot of interest in DNA and Forensic topics. Please read carefully before registering to take one of these courses. The DNA and Forensic courses offered by The International Institute of Genealogical Studies provide instruction on DNA methods as used in genealogical research. We recommend that students without the basic knowledge of genealogy methods and genealogical research should register in the Methodology - Part 1: Getting Started and Methodology Part 2 - Organizing and Skill-Building courses prior to registering for this course. 

This course explores how to use genealogy and genetics to uncover genealogical roots, connect with biological family, and better understand medical history. The emphasis is on adoptees and those helping adoptees with their DNA and genealogy. 

This course is adapted from the book The DNA Guide for Adoptees: How to use genealogy and genetics to uncover your roots, connect with your biological family, and better understand your medical history.

Optional Print Course Material: DNA: Methodology and Analysis

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

This course covers advanced techniques associated with DNA methodology, analysis and strategies. Students should have a firm grasp of the understanding of autosomal, Y-chromosome, and mitochondrial DNA. 

While advances in DNA testing are exciting, DNA does not hold all of the answers for everyone. It plays an important role for many who are searching for family, or those simply hoping to learn more about themselves and their genetics. In some cases, DNA testing has helped people discover unknown medical risks. 

People biologically related to you will have to take a DNA test and share the results on the same service or platform you choose to test to connect. After that you will need to use the tools available for DNA analysis allowing you to understand the results to their fullest. 

Each DNA testing company provides its own set of tools and these tools change over time. This course will help you determine what tools are best for you and when to use them. 

Optional Print Course Material: DNA: Reading and Understanding Articles for Genetic Genealogy

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Pursuing genetic genealogy requires genealogists to keep abreast of the latest discoveries and tools in the field of DNA. DNA is an ever-changing field with new tools and discoveries being made rapidly. While taking courses and attending lectures are a must for genetic genealogists, it is just a part of what is necessary to continue your education. In addition, the reading of information presented online, in popular magazines and in peer-reviewed journals, should be a part of your education plan. This course will present ways to better understand what you read about genetic genealogy and provide examples of various writings on the subject.

Course Length: 8 weeks

Optional Print Course Material: DNA: Historical Studies

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Genetic genealogy is a topic of immense interest to family history researchers looking to find connections to ancestors when traditional research has failed to provide results. Utilizing both DNA testing and traditional research methods can mean the difference between an elusive ancestor and a documented ancestor.

 But DNA testing is not just for genealogists interested in family relationships and ethnicity estimates. DNA is well-known for solving cold cases for law enforcement. It has also been used to solve some of history’s biggest mysteries such as in the claims of historical identities. Cases explored in the course include Anna Anderson, the Titanic Baby, Jesse James, and the Golden State Killer.

 What can these seemingly non-genealogical cases teach us? Learning more about DNA as it relates to genealogical cases and non-genealogical cases helps to expand and enhance our DNA knowledge and provides insights as we solve research problems. Students are encouraged to explore these cases presented in this course further by seeking out scientific journals and popular media articles.