Genetic genealogy has professionalized rapidly — with BCG certification pathways, the IGGAB accreditation for forensic genealogy, and ISOGG standards shaping how practitioners are evaluated. Understanding what these credentials mean, when to hire a professional, and how to find one is increasingly important for researchers facing complex DNA questions.
GenSmarts doesn’t build family trees — it reads the one you already have and tells you, person by person, exactly what to search for next.
Two brothers, three generations of names recorded back to Trier, but no independent sourcing and no DNA test. Could you be connected?
DNA Painter transforms a list of DNA matches into a color-coded chromosome map showing which ancestors contributed which segments of your DNA. Understanding how to get segment data, what the numbers mean, and how to use DNA Painter’s tools — from the Shared cM Project to WATO to the Cluster Mapper — is one of the most practical skills in genetic genealogy.
Online indexes, database entries, and DNA test results all need real citations too — Evidence Explained’s rules for sources you can’t hold in your hands.
The 199 family groups in the DFA database confirm earlier naming patterns — Johann’s dominance, predictable anglicization — and reveal new traditions.
Born in New York, died a brewer in Berlin — his own parents are the mystery here, not a German origin. No DNA test yet. Could you be connected?
The adoptee search community was among the most technically sophisticated early users of DNA testing — and the techniques they developed, from clustering to mirror trees, are now used across genealogy. Understanding those techniques, the volunteer networks that support them, and the ethical framework for handling DNA surprises matters for any researcher working with DNA evidence.
Findmypast is the most comprehensive genealogy platform for British and Irish records, with the world’s largest online archive of historical newspapers, exclusive national archive partnerships, and deep Irish record coverage that no other platform matches. For Dillman researchers with lines through Britain, Ireland, or British departure ports, it is an essential tool.
A saloon keeper named Adam in America and Anton in Germany, with a brother and a documented name change. No DNA test yet. Could you be connected?
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