2024 the best dna genealogy test review

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Unlock the family secrets in your DNA!

Discover the answers to your family history mysteries using the most cutting edge tool available. This plain-English guide (newly updated and expanded to include th latest DNA developments) will teach you what DNA tests are available; the pros and cons of the major testing companies; and how to choose the right test to answer your specific genealogy questions.  And once you've taken a DNA test, this guide will help you use your often-overwhelming results, with tips for understanding ethnicity estimates, navigating suggested cousin matches, and using third-party tools like GEDmatch to further analyze your data.

The book features:

·         Colorful diagrams and expert definitions that explain key DNA terms and concepts such as haplogroups and DNA inheritance patterns
·         Detailed guides to each of the major kinds of DNA tests and tips for selecting the DNA test that can best help you solve your family mysteries, with case studies showing how each can be useful
·         Information about third-party tools you can use to more thoroughly analyze your test results once you've received them
·         Test comparison guides and research forms to help you select the most appropriate DNA test and organize your results
·         Insights into how adoptees and others who know little about their ancestry can benefit from DNA testing

Whether you've just heard of DNA testing or you've tested at all three major companies, this guide will give you the tools you need to unpuzzle your DNA and discover what it can tell you about your family tree.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Family Tree Books; Second edition (August 13, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1440300577
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1440300578
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.06 x 0.71 x 9.15 inches
Reviewer: CJH
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good basic how-to for novices
Review: If you are new to the world of genetic genealogy, this is the book for you. Easy to understand and loaded with lots of information, this book does a great job of helping you understand the lingo and deciding which DNA test will work best for you.

Reviewer: klhoffman
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: DNA Genealogy
Review: very nice book. lots of information

Reviewer: Richard H. Martin
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: An instant classic
Review: Despite what the marketing departments of some DNA testing companies try to make you believe, genetic genealogy is complex. And arcane. And rapidly changing. And not easily amenable to do-it-yourself learning. Until this book was published, that is.I struggled on my own up the long and at times steep learning curve of genetic genealogy for about two years. Despite having a doctoral degree, this octogenarian was nearly overwhelmed by lions and tigers and bears (and cMs and SNPs and STRs) oh, my. I lost my way and the will to press on several times, and on occasion I suspected that the anointed gurus near the edge of this DNA-based genealogical frontier were simply jargon-spouting wizards hiding behind a curtain of pseudo-science.How I wish this book had been published before I started down that yellow brick road. I suspect it would have cut at least a year off of my journey. Well written, attractive, nicely illustrated, and well organized, the book was “intended to be a resource for genealogists of all experience levels, from beginner to expert and everyone in between.” And, by golly, I think the author nailed that lofty goal. Blaine Bettinger knows his stuff, and teaches it expertly. Some beginners may find the going a bit tough, as has been pointed out in other reviews, but effort will be amply rewarded.There seems to have been a profit-motivated attempt to shield consumers of DNA testing from the complexities of this new science. Don’t settle for that seemingly easy, dumbed down, way. Read this outstanding book instead, and get started right. But you had better read it soon. The subject has been growing and evolving so fast that such a definitive book would have been impossible to write until very recently. And new developments, such as ones outlined in chapter 12, “The Future of Genetic Genealogy,” will make it obsolete before long. But when they do, this book will have given you the background knowledge you’ll need in order to understand and keep up with this exciting field of genetic genealogy.

Reviewer: Classy Grandma
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A glimpse of DNA testing
Review: Since DNA testing became available for the general public and having had the test by two different sites I was curious to learn more. The book explains a great deal but it could be at least a one semester course to get a real understanding of all that is connected to this science--and it continues to change. That said, it is a good home reference.

Reviewer: Paper or Kindle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Back to school, but motivated to learn
Review: There is one glaring omission from this otherwise excellent book: nowhere does it explain centiMorgans, which are a hot topic in every genealogy group I belong to. Apart from that, however, this is a relatively short (270 pages), well-written, nicely illustrated introduction to the confusing science of DNA testing as it relates to genealogy. I held off on testing for years, but finally took the plunge, along with my mother and sister (it was my mother's idea). Before I get swept up in a sea of endless matches, I'm reading this book as if I were back in college and cramming for finals. It's presented in a structured way, with information in bite-sized chunks, clearly delineated, with charts, color blocks, examples galore, and great references to other books, organizations, and resources of all kinds. You don't have to read all of it, though. The Y-DNA section can be skipped if there are no males being tested in your family; there's a chapter on adoption which may not apply to you, and so on. There are comparisons between the major companies (Ancestry, 23 and Me, Family Tree, My Heritage), which can help you decide which is best for your purposes. Are you looking for your ethnicity, or do you want to meet cousins? Lots of people are given these test kits as gifts and then have no idea what to do with them. If you have any interest in genealogy, this is a great way to start learning about the possibilities. If you are interested in science, this is fascinating. If, like me, you are decades away from your college science classes, this is like going back to school, but I'm motivated to learn...and there's no final to face. But I WISH there had been more about centiMorgans!

Reviewer: Micki
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good read
Review: Informative and easy to understand

Reviewer: Michael O'Flaherty
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great Read About Genetic Genealogy
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed learning and the complexities of DNA, part of God’s programming language. It is a fascinating subject. I had my DNA done and wanted to understand all the emails I receive about potential matches to “family” I do not personally know. I highly recommend this book if you want to understand DNA in genealogy.

Reviewer: Stephanie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A must read
Review: A must read for beginner DNA genealogists. The author is a subject matter expert and has many training and conference videos available online as well.

Reviewer: Rogerio Guimaraes
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Objetivo, direto.

Reviewer: James
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I found this book's clear explanation, and diagrams, opened my eyes to the complexity of DNA in genealogy. I can't claim to have absorbed it all, but it has given me a much clearer understanding of the the subject, and how to apply it to my research: also the pitfalls when wrong assumptions are made.There are clear diagrams to illustrate inheritance paths, recombination, etc.Thank you.

Reviewer: Eleonora Haas
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Dr. Blaine Bettinger is one of the earliest pioneers in the field of genetic genealogy and this book offers a great overview of its many aspects. It's also available in Spanish. Absolutely recommended!

Reviewer: Jonathan Mills
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: There are many web sites and tutorials on using DNA for genealogical research. But it is an emerging science, and it is complicated for the average person to understand. Bettinger explains the science and the 'use cases' for DNA in a way that is understandable and extremely helpful. Bringing together his education as a scientist and his passion for genealogy, Bettinger is simply the best writer on the subject for the novice or modestly experienced genealogist trying to work with DNA.It is particularly helpful for deciding which DNA company to use for your testing since each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. Bettinger lays out a logic diagram to help you choose the right DNA company, and provides helpful comparisons throughout the book.I highly recommend this book. I have gone through my highlighted sections several times to remind myself of the various technical aspects of applying DNA analysis to genealogical work.

Reviewer: Wodonga Family History Society
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The book is full of good information for family historians.