The PPGS DNA Special Interest Group (SIG) meets 7 p.m., third Thursdays of the month, via Zoom.
Contact Susan Davis to join the group and receive a link to the meeting. All PPGS members are welcome to attend. Guests may attend a few meetings; if you plan to attend regularly, join the society. It will be worth it!
The group typically has ten to twenty attendees who use direct-to-consumer DNA tests as genealogy research tools. All skill levels are welcome.
DNA SIG recordings are on Speaker Videos, available to PPGS members.
2026 Schedule
| Date | Topic |
|---|---|
| February 19 | Melody Wilson, "Visual Clustering at Ancestry DNA." The presentation will include triangulation and the spreadsheet she discussed in the January 2026 PPGS Newsletter. |
| March 19 | As this is the next DNA SIG meeting after RootsTech 2026, we'll discuss DNA announcements and developments. |
| April 16 | Melody Wilson will give an overview of ProTools features at Ancestry.com, including those not related to DNA. |
| May 21 | Open Mic Mentoring Session, so bring your DNA-related questions. |
| June 18 | Open Mic Mentoring Session, so bring your DNA-related questions. |
| July 16 | Linda Vixie,"Mable's Other Guy: DNA Reveals Unexpected Father," a case study in identifying the father of two (out of the mother's eight) children born about 1920. Each of the three closest atDNA matches to the two children's descendants has a tree that presented significant challenges to determining their ancestors and how they are related to each other and to the children's father. |
| August 20 | John Putnam, "AI as a Research Assistant for DNA Evidence: New Genealogical Tool." |
| September 17 | Mike Arnett, "FTDNA Y DNA Tests and How to Use the STR Chart at FamilyTreeDNA" (STR = short tandem repeats). |
| October 15 | Open Mic Mentoring Session, so bring your DNA-related questions. |
| November 19 | Open Mic; we will brainstorm program topics for next year. What would you like to learn, what would you like to see scheduled? |
| December | No meeting |
DNA Videos
These videos or webinars present useful information about getting the most out of your DNA test results.
- Shared DNA Matches: The Only Tool You Will Ever Need by Diahann Southard, FamilySearch, 2023, 59 minutes
- Organize Your DNA Matches into Genetic Networks by Diahann Southard, 2021, 2 minutes
- AncestryDNA Dot System: How to Use It! by Diahann Southard, 2020, 7 minutes (Ancestry has added colors since this was recorded)
- DNA Mystery Matches? Simple Sets to Identifying Them! by Diahann Southard, RootsTech, 2022, 28 minutes. (Topic begins at 8:40)
- Introduction to Genetic Genealogy by Greg Liverman, PPGS, 2020. The genetic genealogy world has advanced since 2020, but this video still presents valuable information. (Presentation begins at 3:05)
DNA Resources
Genealogy Blurring Tool: When presenting publicly, people are often encouraged to anonymize DNA results. The free Genealogy Blurring Tool works on Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge browsers on Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, and FamilySearch page. It can be configured to blur or abbreviate selected information. Install it by clicking on the attached link and following the installation instructions.
GenGen Weblinks 2026, a table of genetic genealogy resources compiled by Walt Washburn; the Excel file will likely go to your download folder.