My New Guide to DNA Testing

[RichardH]

I just created an easy-to read DNA testing guide that you can download for free. [NOTE: My prior post was cut off because I used smart quotes.]

My DNA Testing Adviser web site has a lot of useful information for genealogists, adoptees and others. Yet I felt an overview was needed to put the different DNA tests in perspective.

I describe the four major test types. Then I summarize their purposes, strengths and limitations in a unique table.

The guide is easy to read and understand. But it is not just for newbies. On my Facebook page CeCe Moore called it "a badly needed addition to genetic genealogy literature."

Last night Dick Eastman reviewed my new Guide to DNA testing in Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter (EOGN). His closing words: "I'd call this a great resource for anyone who wishes to learn more about DNA. Congratulations to Richard Hill for creating it."

If you find it useful, please comment here or on my Facebook page.

Thanks!

Richard Hill

[ab123bey]

Adoptee

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I am so confused by DNA and appreciate an easy to read version!

[RichardH]

I'm glad I could help. Almost everyone who gets into genetic genealogy is confused at first. My goal was to write an easy-read overview that puts the different DNA tests in perspective.

Dick Eastman also likes my new DNA Testing Guide. Read his review in Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter.

The 12-page Guide is free. To download your own copy go to this page.

Richard Hill

[thetick]

RichardH

Providing an email address is a HUGE deterrent for almost all newbies. Could you please provide a link to the download? If you are concerned about others using or modifying it, just make a read only PDF and include all the copyright info. Also others like myself can post it and distribute it. Until you do this I suspect VERY few newbies will send their email in fear of SPAM and sale pitches.

[RichardH]

RichardH

Providing an email address is a HUGE deterrent for almost all newbies. Could you please provide a link to the download? If you are concerned about others using or modifying it, just make a read only PDF and include all the copyright info. Also others like myself can post it and distribute it. Until you do this I suspect VERY few newbies will send their email in fear of SPAM and sale pitches.

You make a good point, although more than a thousand people have already downloaded the Guide from this page on my web site. So the level of fear may not be as high as you think, probably because I do NOT ask for any personal information such as name or address.

Last week I added the file to all the Yahoo Groups that I belong to where members may post files. That includes the DNA Newbie group, Adoption DNA, and three other adoption search groups. People can download the Guide without any registration process from any of those places.

Katherine Borgess also plans to post the Guide somewhere on the ISOGG web site, but I don't see it as of this morning.

About twenty people have simply emailed me to request the Guide. I always reply and attach the PDF file. I hesitate to encourage that, because I have to answer each request manually and that takes time. That's why I set up a process to make everything automatic while allowing me to measure the level of interest.

Richard

[thetick]

Very cool. Thanks. Sounds like you have it more thought then I did. Knowing the number downloads is nice to know. I'll look at the ISOGG web site otherwise I join on of the DNA forums you mentioned. No need for emailing back since I do realize that is slow and very time consuming for you.