The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy Paperback – August 13, 2019

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

This 240-page book is the most complete and up-to-date resource on genetic genealogy. While some material is too advanced for raw beginners, you will want this comprehensive book on hand as you work your way through the DNA testing process. Blaine clearly explains all the different DNA types and their individual inheritance patterns. Then he adds lots of supplementary information, including a great list of More Resources. Blaine naturally encourages readers to read his book from start to finish. But not many people read their vehicle owner's manual before taking their new car for a ride. Likewise, you don't need 100% of this knowledge before jumping into the exciting world of DNA testing. Furthermore, each topic will make much more sense when you have your own results to look at. Do read enough to understand the key points. For example, it's important to know that autosomal DNA passes on random selections of each parent's DNA. But you can get by without knowing exactly HOW recombination occurs. The subject of X-DNA inheritance confuses even experienced testers. So just skip that chapter until (and if) you encounter a situation where an understanding of X-DNA is needed. The book is available in both print and Kindle formats. I purchased the print version due to the many excellent tables and illustrations.