Tutorial - Genetic Hide-and-Seek: Exploring Missing Ancestor Mysteries with DNA with Dr Sophie Kay

'Missing ancestor mysteries' in our family tree – those perplexing blanks where an individual has defied identification in historical records – can seem like an insurmountable challenge. Yet if that missing ancestor lies within the most recent 6-7 generations of your pedigree, your autosomal DNA may hold the answer!

This session will equip you with a clear strategy for tracing missing ancestors using autosomal DNA, no matter which provider you’ve tested with. We’ll walk through a four-step process for identifying an unknown forebear from your genetic matches, illustrated using a basic case study, and showcase some handy tools you can use on that hide-and-seek journey. Whether you’re hunting down a single mystery ancestor, or you’re an adoptee looking to reconstruct a significant portion of your biological family tree, this four-step strategy will keep you on course. It’s time to make sense of those DNA matches and realise their problem-solving potential!

Our online tutorials provide guidance on a broad range of topics. They are open to everyone.

In order to be able to join the tutorial you will need access to ZOOM. On the day of the Tutorial you will be sent a unique ID and password.

Please allow for two hours for the session, including joining and discussions. The talk will last approximately an hour.

The numbers are limited. If the bookings are full, please contact the registrar@ihgs.ac.uk as new dates will be added.

**Please Note that the tutorials contain copyrighted material and therefore should not be recorded or reproduced in any way.**