From Staff Reports

The Post-Searchlight

Shirley Fleming, administrator for the Southwest Georgia FTDNA project, has just returned from the 12th International Conference on Genetic Genealogy in Houston, Texas. The conference this year was one of the largest with approximately 200 DNA group administrators from all over the world attending. The Conference was sponsored by   Family Tree DNA which is one of the three top DNA testing companies for genealogy.   

DNA testing is truly the future of genealogy research. Anyone interested in doing family research should not only take a DNA test, but also encourage their family members to do so as well.

There are three basic DNA tests that one can take. 

The Y-DNA can only be taken by a male and gives information only on their direct paternal line.

The mtDNA can be taken by both male and female but only gives information about the direct maternal line.  Women pass their mtDNA to their children but only the daughters can pass it to theirs. 

The autosomal or family finder test is one both male and female can take and it gives you matches from both the maternal and paternal sides.  It can also give you your ethnic makeup. Family Tree DNA has just added a feature that can help sort your matches from maternal and paternal lines. 

In November they added the Ancient Origins feature which gives you more in depth information about your ancestry. 

With the Holidays just around the corner, many of the DNA companies are offering DNA kits at a reduced price.  If you would like more information about a DNA test or the free DNA Classes she teaches, you may contact Mrs. Fleming at her email address SouthwestGeorgiaDNA@aol.com or call her at (229)246-6327