Course: 2026-10
Genetic Networks: Start at the Beginning
In Person – Pittsburgh
Sponsored by:
Faculty:
- Coordinator and Instructor: Kelli Jo Bergheimer, MSM
- Other Instructors: Paula Williams
Tuition:
- Regular Price: $615.00
- NGS Member Price: $575.00
Description:
Calling all DNA beginners who want to learn more! Understanding DNA results can be overwhelming. This step-by-step, practice-as-you-go course is for you! Understanding and using genetic networks can propel your DNA analysis forward. This course will transform your understanding of DNA shared matching and building networks of matches to make progress to answer your research questions. You will learn techniques to build networks, strategies to analyze networks, and tips to organize what you find.
Student Prerequisites:
Students need:
- to have a working knowledge of DNA, inheritance, and a working knowledge of the DNA testing sites and tools
- a DNA account login information for each major testing site where they tested—FamilyTreeDNA, Ancestry DNA, MyHeritage DNA, Living DNA, and 23andMe, and login information for other software and sites such as DNA Painter
- a laptop or desktop computer (not a tablet) for hands-on sessions and in-class writing assignments
- an understanding of their own desktop/laptop functionality, operations, file management, troubleshooting skills for their own device, and knowledge of how to join a wi-fi network
- familiarity and basic skills with word processing, Excel or other spreadsheet software, and how to edit, save, and create these file types
Recommendations:
Students would greatly benefit from having an Ancestry Pro Tools subscription.
NOTE: All times are listed in Eastern Time.
Live Sessions may be subject to schedule adjustments by your course coordinator.
| Day | Session | Time | Session Title | Description | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 13 July |
Intro | 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Class Introductions | Bergheimer | |
| 1 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Introduction to DNA (Testing Companies, Testing Types) | You have heard about different types of DNA, different DNA testing companies, and how different types of families can present challenges to figuring out your DNA matches. Learn to untangle your match list with shared matches. | Bergheimer | |
| 2 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Parameters of DNA Sharing- Who Shares, Who Doesn’t Share, Inferred Matching | Children are a subset of their parents’ DNA. Non-identical siblings inherit 50% from mom and 50% from dad, but not the same mixture of DNA. Learn about genetic diversity among siblings and how this diversity can help your research. | Bergheimer | |
| 3 | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | The Right Tester, the Right Test, the Right Testing Company to Inform Your Research Question | Pause and think about which tester can help you solve your research question. Which test can give you answers within a genealogical timeframe. There are benefits to each testing company for particular populations and families. Learn to determine the most efficient testing strategy to figure out your matches and push back your ancestral lines. | Bergheimer | |
| 4 | 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM | Hands-on Guided Practice | Hands-on Session: Apply what was discussed to your own research questions. | Bergheimer/Williams | |
| Tuesday 14 July |
5 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Defining and Finding a Genetic Network: Shared Matching Basics | The hard part of figuring out your DNA match lists is where to start and what to do. Learn tips for identifying cousins in your match list. We will use a match at AncestryDNA and a match at MyHeritage DNA to explore how to move those unknown matches into your family tree. | Williams |
| 6 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Visualizing a Genetic Network- Shared Matching Between a Tester and a Match | Using the power of shared matching to build genetic networks and crowd-source the available information. Learn about the importance of descendancy research and tree completeness to solving your DNA questions. | Bergheimer | |
| 7 | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Hands-on Practice with Your DNA Results | Hands-on Session: Apply what was discussed to your own research questions. | Bergheimer/Williams | |
| 8 | 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM | How to Organize Information from Your Shared Matches- Research Log, Digital Solutions, Paper Solutions | A research log can help identify gaps, the strength of your arguments, adjustments needed to hypotheses, and caveating conclusions. Learn how mapping a research question from known information to analyzing new information and the transition from hypothesis to conclusion can help you construct DNA proof. | Bergheimer | |
| Wednesday 15 July |
9 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Visualizing Genetic Networks- Leeds Method | Learn to set up, use, and analyze your matches with the Leeds Method. Organizing and sorting your match list can be so much more—an active, comprehensive workspace. Learn a process from beginning to end to help you organize the information about your match lists and genetic networks. | Bergheimer |
| 10 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Hands-on Practice with Your DNA Results | Hands-on Session: Apply what was discussed to your own research questions. | Bergheimer/Williams | |
| 11 | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Visualizing Genetic Networks- Clustering | Use the power of clusters of matches and family trees to identify family groups and most recent common ancestor (MRCA). | Williams | |
| 12 | 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM | Hands-on Practice with Your DNA Results | Hands-on Session: Apply what was discussed to your own research questions. | Bergheimer/Williams | |
| Thursday 16 July |
13 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Visualizing Genetic Networks- Shared Matches of Your Matches | Ancestry’s new Pro Tools can increase your ability to analyze your DNA matches. The Enhanced shared matches tool is giving us another level of insight into our matches by showing us how our matches share DNA with each other. Other shared matching tools at other DNA testing companies will be included. | Williams |
| 14 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Hands-on Practice with Your DNA Results | Hands-on Session: Apply what was discussed to your own research questions. | Bergheimer/Williams | |
| 15 | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Crowd-sourcing the Genetic Network and Tree Building | The goal of connecting groups of matches to each other is to jumpstart building your family tree. Learn how to pull the small subgroups of matches together to start filling in your tree. | Bergheimer | |
| 16 | 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM | Hands-on Practice with Your DNA Results | Hands-on Session: Apply what was discussed to your own research questions. | Bergheimer/Williams | |
| Friday 17 July |
17 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Techniques for Identifying Hard-to-identify Matches–Social Media, Obituaries, and Other Search Techniques | Have you tried to figure out who some of your DNA matches are but struggle to make progress? Learn to use some free websites, newspapers, and social media to identify some of those people you don’t know in your match list. | Bergheimer |
| 18 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Pulling It All Together into a Research Plan | Learn to write the logical next steps to help answer your research question. Learn ways to organize your DNA tests, files, projects in digital folders. | Bergheimer |