THROWBACK THURSDAY! "Midge" is one of my most difficult unknown-father cases ever. She’s got great matches, but there are so many Smiths, so many interrelationships, and so many MPEs that I've been stuck for six years.

Okay, this is insane. AncestryDNA tests are on sale for the lowest price ever: only $29! You can also get a 3-month trial of their World Explorer membership for only $1 extra or the All Access membership for $10 more. (Sale ends May 11; shipping not included.) www.ancestry.com/dna/

It's almost that time! My FREE monthly newsletter—with the latest developments in the field of genealogy and updates on DNA class offerings—is about to drop. Real content from a real person! Sign up now so you don't miss out. bit.ly/Geekmail (Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

Happy DNA Day, when we celebrate two groundbreaking events in science: the 1953 publication by James Watson & Watson Crick describing DNA's double-helix—based on crystallography work by Rosalind Franklin—and the completion of the Human Genome Project 50 years later. (Image: Stubot via Flickr)

THROWBACK THURSDAY! Saturday is DNA Day, the anniversary of two groundbreaking events in science history: the publication of DNA's physical structure and the completion of the human genome project. This is a good time to review some DNA basics. thednageek.com/dna-basics-w...

It's crazy to think this photo is 50 years old! Two alligators got into the family swimming hole. This was the first time I ate gator. They were protected at the time and we had to ask around for someone who still had a recipe. I make a mean gator soup today!

OMG I think I just solved Smithville! If you need me, I'll be dancing like a K-pop singer in my Sunday sweats! Deets to come. Here's some background: thednageek.com/struggles-wi...

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰? Most of the DNA we use in genetic genealogy is not genes!

THROWBACK THURSDAY: DNA Day is just around the corner! This is a good time to brush up on some of the basics, like are you an equal mix of Mom and Dad? As with many things involving DNA, the answer is both 𝘺𝘦𝘴 and 𝘯𝘰. Find out why: thednageek.com/dna-basics-a...

I don't normally brag, but every rule has an exception: I have The Best Students! Today I wrapped up two classes on BanyanDNA, a tool for genetic genealogy & complex pedigrees. Both groups were actively engaged throughout, asked great questions, and boosted the class level with their participation.

What's the wildest reaction you've seen from a birth parent? Mandy was adopted, and we quickly figured out who her biological father was. Mandy had solid DNA matches to both sides of his tree, and he was an only child. No doubt.

I was too late. Gina had already reached out to her half-sister match. Alicia (both names are pseudonyms) was initially receptive, until Gina insisted that Alicia's father wasn't her father when it was her own father who was misidentified. Her insistence threw Alicia's family into turmoil.

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰? DNA is everywhere! With modern technologies, tiny amounts can be sampled from water, soil, surfaces, even the air. Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to track organisms as diverse as dangerous pathogens, endangered animals, natural controlled substances, and even individual people.

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄? The Human Genome Project took more than 12 years and ≈US$3 billion to complete. Today, modern labs can sequence your entire genome in a day! April 25 is DNA Day to commemorate key scientific advances. In the coming weeks, I'll share fun facts about DNA. What do you want to know?

The House of Habsburg famously ruled over vast regions of Europe, and they were famously inbred. How inbred? So much that scientists study them as a natural experiment. We can replicate those studies in BanyanDNA. This blog shows how! wp.me/p8Om3F-4Hu

Apparently MyHeritage tests are on sale for $19.90 in the US, with the exceptions of CA, MD, and WA. As luck would have it, I'm in California, but the rest of y'all can benefit! bit.ly/MyHeritageAf...

One of the most remarkable genealogy resources for Acadians was born of tragedy. In 1755, the British expelled the French Acadians from Nova Scotia. My ancestors eventually made their way to Louisiana, but more than a thousand survivors were imprisoned in British port cities.

What to be among the first to know about upcoming genealogy classes with The DNA Geek? The next issue of my monthly newsletter will drop soon. Don't miss out! Sign up here: bit.ly/Geekmail (Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay)

DNA isn't just for genealogy, and it's not just for humans! Stone Age hunter-gathers across Europe & W. Asia kept dogs as early as 15,800 years ago, long before agriculture. The dogs were more closely related than the humans, meaning the tribes were sharing dogs with one another, like a fad.

What's the oldest MRCA estimate you've seen in the Big Y Time Tree? My husband Y-DNA test in 2017 for insight into his 2-great grandfather, Frederick Vogler. Family lore holds that Fredrick, his mother, and a brother came to America from Baden-Baden, Germany, when he young.

THROWBACK THURSDAY! Would you know if your tree were wrong? BanyanDNA can help! This tool can analyze multiple DNA kits to show where potential problems are in your biological tree. Learn more here: thednageek.com/is-your-fami...

The Whole Shebang! NextGen Sequencing Comes to Genealogy 23andMe revolutionized the fields of personal genomics and genetic genealogy when they introduced the first direct-to-consumer autosomal DNA test in 2007.  Back then, a kit would set you back $1000.  Economies of scale and improvements in…

Do you know about Conference Keeper? It's a one-stop shop for genealogy events, and it's completely free! You can search by month, location, or even specializations like African American genealogy, Jewish genealogy, Artificial Intelligence, and—of course—DNA! Check it out! bit.ly/ConferenceKe...

Federal agents are taking DNA from Americans who are exercising their constitutional right to protest. As Professor Erin Murphy of NYU says, this is incredibly private information. www.npr.org/2026/03/18/n...

Struggling with mystery DNA matches with no trees? Don’t lose hope! Kate Penney Howard has tips for for all skill levels and a handy research template so you leave no stone unturned. This engaging & fast-paced session is only $15. Let’s crack this mystery together! Register ar bit.ly/DNAGeekTixFB

What if the person you *need* to test has just passed away? Learn how Jerry confirmed his biological father using post-mortem DNA. Have you had DNA tested from artifacts? Share in the comments! thednageek.com/jerry-and-pa...

Facebook's AI suggested this ad for my educational series. I can say with some confidence that no other genealogist on the planet is offering "wirfesterizing"! 😁 But seriously, you can check out my live, interactive, AI-free classes here: bit.ly/DNAGeekTixFB

FLASHBACK POST! Ever wonder how AncestryDNA can pinpoint your recent ancestors so precisely? Here's a nerdy take on the science behind it. What is your most intriguing Journey and why? Share in the comments! thednageek.com/the-science-...

Database Sizes—March 2026 More than 54 million DNA kits are available for genealogical matching!

THROWBACK THURSDAY! Did you know that DNA inheritance patterns vary slightly depending on whether the ancestor was male or female? You're more likely to find outliers on your dad's side than your mom's. This post explains why. wp.me/p8Om3F-2SC

True confession: I *love* origin (ethnicity) estimates! The science is cool & they help family history. This archive post shows how to evaluate them. Which ones are best for you? Sign up for my upcoming class on the latest estimates with the link at the end! wp.me/p8Om3F-1tI

Where in the World? As of late February 2026, I estimate that there are more than 55 million autosomal DNA (atDNA) kits across the four main testing companies:  AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, and FamilyTreeDNA.  Not all of these are unique individuals, to be sure, because most hard-core genetic…

THROWBACK THURSDAY! Remember when AncestryDNA (& later MyHeritage) introduced colored dots? It's hard to fathom both how excited we were & how incredibly useful they've become! Enjoy this throwback post from 2019, then share in comments how they have helped your genealogy research!

Weaponizing DNA Against Women Last Friday, fetal remains were found in a wastewater treatment plant in Sumter County, South Carolina.  The fetus was male, 13–15 weeks old, with no signs of trauma.  At that stage, a miscarriage is considered a medical event rather than a legal death, meaning that…

A new set of classes has dropped at The DNA Geek! First up in March, we have "Wait, I'm What?!? Understanding Origin Estimates." You can register and check out our other offerings at tixoom.app/thednageek

Struggles with Smithville The most frustrating unknown father case I've ever worked is "Midge" (not her real name).  Midge has great matches!  I even know the town her biological father was from.  That's not the problem. The problem is that half the town are Smiths, they're all related, and…

If you've ever worked a case with closely related parents, you need to read this post now. thednageek.com/revisiting-t...

Revisiting the “Are Your Parents Related Tool” at GEDmatch Most cultures have taboos against close relatives marrying (or mating with) one another.  While some royal lineages historically used intra-family marriages to consolidate power, there are generally consequences.  The practice is known to…

Othram will now outsource forensic genetic genealogy to freelancers. At first glance, this poses massive privacy risks for criminal investigations, undercuts the professionalization of FGG via accreditation or certification, and shifts all of the liability onto the contractors. totaltreecall.com

Do you have challenging or sensitive DNA results? On July 22, my friend & colleague Kate Penney Howard will teach how about these scenarios in her class "Dealing with Difficult DNA: Endogamy, High-RoH, and Other Hazards." Register for one of two sessions—10 AM or 5 PM PDT—at tixoom.app/thednageek

Beyond the Stories: Verifying Native Ancestry Through History and DNA, with Aimee Rose Haynes Enroll now at bit.ly/DNAGeekEvents Join guest speaker Aimee Rose Haynes to trace the path from family stories to verified Native American ancestry through historical records and tribal enrollment.

The End of an Era: Uploads at MyHeritage MyHeritage is apparently securing their DNA database in response to the FBI using it in the Idaho murder investigation.

ALL-NEW class! Ethnicity estimates are popular, yet they are often maligned as inaccurate or even quack science.  Are they reliable?  Join me for a deep dive into the science behind ethnicity estimates to understand how they work and which are most accurate. Register today! bit.ly/DNAGeekEvents

I came across this guide (from my kids’ elementary school) while going through some old papers. Some people never outgrow bullying, as my encounter at #rootstech2025 reminded me. #ethicspanel #FIGG #meangirls

She’s broken. #catsofbluesky

How Are Our Databases Doing? There are now more than 53 million tested DNA kits, and growth has been steady for the past 5 years.

Q: "How do you respond to Governor Newsom?" Sen. Van Hollen: "I think Americans are tired of elected officials or politicians who are all finger to the wind...Anybody who can't stand up for the Constitution and the right of due process doesn't deserve to lead."

🤔

Reminder: All People Had To Do Was Fill In A Little Oval Next To The Smart Black Lady’s Name.

Trump admits illegally deporting a legal resident “by mistake” and says he can’t bring the US resident home because he’s not in the US any longer. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...