The Blog

Guides, tutorials, and deep dives into genealogy research, DNA testing, and family history.

DNA

At 70, He Discovered an Unexpected Cousin

Christian, who lives in Deauville, France, began exploring his genealogy over thirty years ago. Among the few traces left behind...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott Sep 14, 2025
DNA

8 Ninja-Level Methods to Unmask Mystery DNA Matches

You've got a DNA match with no tree attached. Just initials or a cryptic username staring back at you. Frustrating?...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott Jun 20, 2025
DNA

No Family Tree? No Problem! Sleuthing Your Way to Identify Anonymous DNA Matches

You've taken a DNA test. The results arrived. Now you're staring at a list of DNA matches. Some have detailed...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott May 14, 2025
DNA

Adoptee’s Guide to DNA Matches: Decoding Shared DNA in Your Results

You took the test. The results arrived. Now what? For adoptees and those with unknown parentage, those DNA match lists...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott May 14, 2025
DNA

Cold Cases Cracked: The 10 Biggest Serial Cases Solved Through Investigative Genetic Genealogy

Investigative genetic genealogy has revolutionized cold case investigations, helping identify perpetrators of violent crimes through DNA evidence. These ten cases...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott Apr 4, 2025
DNA

What 23andMe’s Chapter 11 Really Means for Genealogists

Genealogists worldwide are asking: what happens to my data now? This weekend, 23andMe entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. What does...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott Mar 24, 2025
DNA

Relatives That Don’t Want to Be Related to You: The DNA Detective’s Dilemma

Here's the brutal truth about genetic genealogy: Not everyone wants to be found. Let that sink in. You've spent countless...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott Jan 27, 2025
DNA

DNA Segment Deep Dive: Making Sense of Your Genetic Puzzle Pieces

If you've ever stared at your chromosome browser wondering what those colorful segments actually mean, you're not alone. I recently...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott Dec 13, 2024
DNA

DNA Myths Busted: What You Think You Know Might Be Wrong

Let's talk DNA myths. You know the ones I mean - those "facts" about genetic genealogy that everyone seems to...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott Dec 5, 2024
DNA

How Your DNA Could Catch a Killer

True crime shows love to talk about DNA solving cold cases. They make it sound like magic - a drop...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott Nov 19, 2024
DNA

9 Ways DNA Results Can Supercharge Your Family Tree Research

You've been digging through dusty archives, squinting at faded census records, and pulling your hair out over conflicting family stories....

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott Oct 8, 2024
DNA

How to Download AncestryDNA Raw Data and Upload to MyHeritage

If you've taken an AncestryDNA test and want to expand your genetic genealogy research, you're in the right place. This...

Marc McDermott
Marc McDermott Oct 4, 2024