Famous DNA: Looking into the genetic history of Joseph Smith Jr., founder of Mormonism

Explore unique and fascinating historical records about members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons or LDS) in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Using research on her own ancestor, Sunny Morton will share examples of–and tips for finding–congregational membership records; group immigration resources; missionary…

We will explore the early LDS church, across the oceans and plains, to settlement in Utah. We will explore unique sites to add historical context and biographical information to the LDS pioneer.

Note: This is not geared toward LDS members. Ohio was the first gathering place of the LDS Church. Eventually, those who joined with the its membership eventually found themselves displaced into Missouri and Illinois before their trek to Utah.

Investigative, or Forensic, Genetic Genealogy (I/FGG) is the relatively recent application of traditional genetic genealogy skills, tools, and resources with the objective to assist Law Enforcement agencies in identifying unidentified human remains or suspects of violent crimes, among other cases. With this introduction, we will learn how I/FGG started, how it works, how is it different from traditional Forensic DNA Typing, and other traditional genealogical and genetic investigations used in criminal justice, and what changes are in place to ensure that I/FGG can be done safely, ethically, legally, and without compromising the privacy and integrity of the genetic genealogical community.

From the former Genographic Project, to 23andMe, autosomal DNA testing companies have added a feature to the DNA results they provide to their customers: what percentage of Neanderthal DNA you carry. This might sound like science fiction to some. How do scientist know what Neanderthal DNA looks like? How are…

All of us are aware that DNA testing is a formidable tool to address paternity cases. However, when talking about paternity testing, the subjects tested are all alive and willing to provide a DNA sample. The normal procedure involves testing the alleged father, the mother and the child. However, what…

This presentation will focus on genetic markers that are typical of Native American populations and how they can be used to discover your personal Native American ancestry, even in the absence of written genealogical records.

Hundreds of thousands of genetic profiles for family history and ancestral purposes have been generated by private laboratories, universities, and the National Geographic's Genographic Project during the past fifteen years. However, many individuals that had their DNA tested were somewhat disappointed, as the information provided by many laboratories is often...

After the male-inherited Y chromosome (Ycs) and the maternal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), autosomal DNA testing offers many insights into a person's past and how he/she might be related to other people. While Ycs and mtDNA are limited to the two outermost lineages in the pedigree chart, autosomal DNA offers a…