Events - Event View

SESSION 1 - 9:10 am Pacific Time:
Using Autosomal DNA for 18th and 19th Century Mysteries - Blaine Bettinger 

Even though our 18th and 19th century ancestors have been dead for decades, their DNA still survives in their descendants. Learn how to use autosomal DNA to attack and potentially solve genealogical mysteries and brick walls for ancestors who were born or lived in the 1800’s, 1700’s, and beyond .

Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence and the use of artificial intelligence for genealogical research. He is the author of the long-running blog The Genetic Genealogist, and frequently gives presentations and webinars to educate others about the use of DNA and artificial intelligence. Blaine has been a leader in the field of genetic genealogy, and has helped pioneer several aspects of genetic genealogy methodology. 

SESSION 2 - 10:20 am Pacific Time:
Mitochondrial DNA to Z: My Results Are Back, Now What? - Roberta Estes 

Would you like to understand how to use your mitochondrial DNA results for genealogy? What do those numbers mean and why are they important? This is just the class for you. Roberta will take results, step-by-step through all of the reports and tools and help you interpret what they mean and how to use them for genealogy.  
 
Roberta Estes, MS, MBA, author of the books DNA for Native American Genealogy and The Complete Guide to FamilyTreeDNA: Y-DNA, Mitochondrial, Autosomal and X-DNA is a scientist, National Geographic Genographic affiliate researcher, Million Mito team member, and founding pioneer in the genetic genealogy field. Roberta has written over 1800 articles at her popular blog, DNA Explained, https://dna-explained.com/, about genetic genealogy and how to combine traditional genealogy research with DNA to solve those stubborn ancestor puzzles.

SESSION 3 - 12:00 pm Pacific Time:
Lessons Learned from Big Y Testing - Janine Cloud 

DNA testing with the Big Y can reveal far more than a haplogroup—it can reshape our understanding of paternal ancestry. In this presentation, Janine Cloud shares what she learned while analyzing Big Y results from several ancestral lines, including Griffin, White, Hensley, Blackerby, and Cloud. Using FamilyTreeDNA tools such as Discover, the haplotree, and match analysis, she demonstrates how Big Y results can confirm research, challenge assumptions, and uncover new insights into paternal family history.  

Janine Cloud has worked with FamilyTreeDNA for close to 15 years, leading customer service and group projects teams, coordinating events, and speaking widely on DNA and genealogy. She enjoys helping researchers understand their DNA results and apply them to their family history. Her own genealogical research includes several Big Y-tested paternal lines. 

SESSION 4 - 1:10 pm Pacific Time:
Segment-ology - Jim Bartlett

“Segmentology” dives into the practical use of DNA segments for genealogy. Jim Bartlett shows how to organize shared segments, form triangulated groups, and map your chromosomes to specific ancestors, turning raw match data into clear evidence for your family tree. Drawing on more than a decade of segment-based analysis and 200+ blog posts at Segmentology.org, Jim explains complex DNA concepts in plain English so genealogists can confidently apply them to real research problems. 

Jim Bartlett has been a genealogist since 1974 and a leading voice in genetic genealogy for more than two decades. He founded and still administers the BARTLETT DNA Project at FamilyTreeDNA, and he has tested at all major DNA companies. A passionate advocate of chromosome mapping and triangulation, Jim writes the long-running blog Segmentology.org, where he explains autosomal DNA segments and methods in clear, practical terms for everyday genealogists.