Resource Guides

DNA Research Guide

We inherit our DNA from our biological parents. By comparing our DNA with that of others we can find, confirm, or disprove relationships. By comparing our DNA with that of homogenous groups we can gain insight into ethnic ancestry.

DNA Websites We Recommend

An excellent Introduction and Overview of Genetic Genealogy is provided by:

• The International Society of Genetic Genealogy - ISOGG

DNA Testing Companies

For a comparison of different DNA testing companies, see:

• Autosomal DNA Testing Comparison Chart

More information about the testing companies is available on their web sites. Please note that - unlike the genealogy web sites - unless you have your DNA results on one of these web sites, there is limited exploration possible. But you can check what a company offers and their fees.

• 23andMe - After a turbulent time of filing for Chapter 11 (bankruptcy), and an initial bid from a company called Regeneron, a nonprofit led by the co-founder and former CEO of 23andMe, Anne Wojcicki, outbid competitors for nearly all of the company’s assets (as of June 16 2025).

The company’s privacy practices are under scrutiny by UK and Canadian governments with following a data breech in 2023.

• FamilyTreeDNA
• Ancestry DNA
• MyHeritageDNA
• LivingDNA

DNA Match Analysis Tools

• The Shared Centimorgan Project researched and developed by Blaine Bettinger provides the best method to determine the most likely relationships from DNA match sizes. Robin Wirthlin writes on Family Locket how to use The Shared cM Project Tool on DNA Painter.
• DNA Painter © provides chromosome mapping determined from matches, to help users identify which segments of their DNA were inherited from different ancestors. It incorporates an interactive version of the Shared Centimorgan Tool.
• What are the Odds (WATO) helps to solve DNA puzzles (including unknown parentage cases) by undertaking the calculations using probabilities simulated by AncestryDNA. Caveat: Due to the lack of statistical data available, WATO has limited applications for double-cousin; 3/4 sibling; and, endogamous relationships. Credits: Leah Larkin, AncestryDNA White Paper, Dr. Andrew Millard, Mike Mulligan, and Peiwen Lu.
• Genetic Affairs offers a suite of tools to sort matches into groups who likely descend from common ancestors: AutoCluster, AutoTree, AutoSegment, Autokinship,  Autolineage, and AutoPedigree
• GEDmatch allows users to upload their raw DNA data from 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, AncestryDNA and MyHeritageDNA. It searches for matches between any of the DNA files and provides information about matching segments.
• mitoYDNA.org (crowdsourced, free and accessible DNA) allows users to upload their Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA to create a YDNA and mitochondrial DNA database.

DNA Bloggers

The GeneticGenealogist - Blaine Bettinger

DNAeXplained - Roberta Estes

Kitty Cooper's Blog - Kitty Cooper

The DNA Geek Mixing science and genealogy – Leah Larkin

Members of the writing group of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) believe it’s important to turn genealogy research into stories that can be shared.

The writing group is open to BIFHSGO members who are already writing about their family history and would like to exchange feedback with other writers. (For information about the writing group, contact BIFHSGO, attention Carol Annett.)

But you don’t have to join a writing group to turn genealogy findings into engaging stories. This resource page was created for anyone looking for tips on starting a writing project. 

Resources

BIFHSGO Writing Group “Guide to writing stories about your family history"

Books we recommend from the Ottawa Branch library of Ontario Ancestors (Ontario Genealogical Society) in The City of Ottawa Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive:

• Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, You Can Write your Family History. Cincinnati: Betterway Books, 2003. Dewey No. 808.06 CAR
• Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD, USA, 2009. Dewey No. 907.2 MIL
• William Jr. Strunk and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, 4th ed. Dewey No. 808.042 STR
• William Zinsser, On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, 30th Anniversary ed. Dewey No. 808.06 ZIN
  

Resources we recommend that are available on the BIFHSGO website, some in the Anglo-Celtic Roots: Archive:

• How to Tell a Compelling Family History Story, education talk by Ruth Stewart Verger, 10 April 2021, with handout on best practices, in Members' Area only
• “Anglo-Celtic Roots Guide to Authors.” British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa  Members' Area only, under Anglo-Celtic Roots.
• Charlotte Gray “Bringing Life to History and History to Life,” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 11 No 3 (Fall 2005): 65-70.
• Marnie McCall, “Copyright for Family History,” BIFHSGO 2017 Conference videos, available in Members' Area only
• The Writing Group, “Using Contemporary Novels for Background Material in Family History Writing.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol. 16 No. 4 (Fall 2010): 63-66. Betty Warburton, “On Writing a Family Story,” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 16 No 4 (Fall 2010): 60-61.

Stories from Anglo-Celtic Roots:

There are many family history stories published in BIFHSGO’s quarterly publication, Anglo-Celtic Roots, that can provide a source of inspiration for aspiring writers. You can browse past issues of ACR here and find the stories listed below that were award winners:

• BIFHSGO Members Awards, Best Anglo-Celtic Roots Article since 2000
   
• Award winners from BIFHSGO 20th Anniversary Writing Competition 2014:

Adrienne Stevenson. “Adventures of a Library.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 20 No 3 (Fall 2014): 16-25.

Carol Annett, “Picturing Knoydart Then and Now.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 20 No 3 (Fall 2014): 25-34.

Anne Renwick, “A Precious Legacy.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol. 20 No. 4 (Winter 2014): 26-35.

Brenda Turner, “Archie’s Rifles.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 21 No 1 (Spring 2015): 19-24.

Dena Palamedes, “The Rambler—Exodus from Savary.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 21 No 2 (Summer 2015):19-26.

Lynne Willoughby, “The McGirrs of Castlederg.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol. 21 No. 2 (Summer 2015): 27-37.

• Award winners from BIFHSGO 25th Anniversary Writing Competition 2019:

Claire Callender, “The Travels and Trials of Adam Logan, Dairyman.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 25 No 4 (Winter 2019): 3-15. Members' Area only

Irene Kellow Ip, “A Tale of Two Names.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 25 No 4 (Winter 2019): 16-26. Members' Area only

and the following resources in ACR issues available only in the Members' Area:

Lynda Gibson, “John and Grizzel’s Epic Adventure to the Land of Milk and Maple Syrup.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 26 No 1 (Spring 2020): 3-12. Members' Area only

Dianne Brydon, “Who’s Crazy? The Sad Tale of Mary Brydon and Mental Health in 19^th Century Ontario.” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 26 No 1 (Spring 2020): 12-21. Members' area only

Bette Smith, “Emily Charts a New Course,” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 26 No 2 (Summer 2020): 3-13. Members' Area only

Carol Dillon, “My Father’s Trunk: The Beginning of a Genealogical Journey,” Anglo-Celtic Roots Vol 26 No 2 (Summer 2020): 13-23. Members' Area only

Links to other resources:

Nigro, Carmen. “20 Reasons Why You Should Write Your Family History.”  New York Public Library (Accessed on 18 May 2020).

Updated August 2021