DNA Testing Update

Welcome to DNA Testing Update, my occasional web journal that keeps you up-to-date with what's new at DNA Testing Adviser. I’ll tell you about…

  • New or updated articles on the website

  • Significant news from the genealogy and adoption search communities

  • DNA testing tips for paternity, genealogy, and adoption search

  • Previous articles that might be worth another look

You can read my latest journal entries below; but you can also have DNA Testing Update delivered directly to your computer.

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Jun 16, 2013

Father's Day Article on DNA Success Story

Since today is Father's Day, the Grand Rapids Press ran a front-page article about me, my book, and my two fathers. The article is also online.

Continue reading "Father's Day Article on DNA Success Story"

May 24, 2013

"Finding Family" Book Earns Publishing Award

My "Finding Family" book has been named a Finalist in the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

The awards "recognize and honor the most exceptional independently published books in 60 different categories." My category is Memoirs (Other).

For me, the best part about this is that book experts who have nothing to do with adoption or genealogy liked the book. Similarly, it also got a great review in Kirkus Reviews.

"Finding Family" now has 60 reader reviews on Amazon.com with 56 of them rating the book 5 stars.

Continue reading ""Finding Family" Book Earns Publishing Award"

May 10, 2013

How DNA Testing is Changing the World of Adoption Search

"How DNA Testing is Changing the World of Adoption Search." That's the title of my 3-page article that appears in the May issue of Adoption Today. I believe it's the most comprehensive article to date on this subject. Click the link below to reach the article online.

Continue reading "How DNA Testing is Changing the World of Adoption Search"

Apr 30, 2013

Radio Interview with Dr. Melanie Barton

Dr. Melanie Barton recently interviewed Richard Hill about his book,"Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA."

Unlike most interviewers, Dr. Melanie actually read the book before the interview. That lead to some very specific questions and some interesting discussions.

Click the following link to listen.

Continue reading "Radio Interview with Dr. Melanie Barton"

Apr 20, 2013

DNA Day Sale at Family Tree DNA

Family Tree DNA is having a good sale right now, including Family Finder. It's only for a few days, so check it out now at the link below.

Continue reading "DNA Day Sale at Family Tree DNA"

Feb 21, 2013

A Y-DNA Test for Only $39

Family Tree DNA has temporarily reduced the price of its 12-marker Y-DNA test from $99 to only $39. If you are male or have a man in your family, this is a great time to begin your exploration of genetic genealogy.

This test will reveal the basic haplogroup of your paternal line. You can learn the migration path of your ancient ancestors.

Most likely, you will discover that you match a number of other men in the company's huge Y-DNA database. Determining how close your common ancestors lived will probably require an upgrade to more markers. But even if you end up buying an upgrade, you will still save money overall.

Family Tree DNA will hold your DNA sample for 25 years. So at any time in the future you can order any of their tests without providing another sample.

If you have an older male relative, I would jump on this now just to preserve his DNA while he is still around.

Also, if you're in any kind of family research project, you might want to buy some extra kits now. Just register them as TBD (for To Be Determined). Test kits do not expire and you can submit the samples whenever you get appropriate test subjects.

Continue reading "A Y-DNA Test for Only $39"

Feb 14, 2013

First Mother Forum Reviews Finding Family Book

Richard Hill's book, Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA, is reviewed in First Mother Forum

Continue reading "First Mother Forum Reviews Finding Family Book"

Feb 14, 2013

Musings of the Lame Reviews Finding Family Book

Claudia Corrgan D'Arcy interviews Richard Hill for her blog, Musings of the Lame

Continue reading "Musings of the Lame Reviews Finding Family Book"

Feb 11, 2013

Adoption Community Discovers "Finding Family"

In the last three weeks reviews of my book have appeared in four different blogs or publications in the adoption community.

The first with a book review of "Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA" and an interview with me was the Lost Daughters Blog.

The next review appeared in the February issue of Adoption Today magazine.

That was followed by a review/interview in Musings of the Lame.

Now the [Birth Mother,] First Mother Forum has added yet another review that you can reach through the following link:

Continue reading "Adoption Community Discovers "Finding Family""

Feb 11, 2013

Virtual Tour: FTDNA's DNA Testing Lab

Family Tree DNA is the only genetic genealogy company that does its own testing. They also do the testing for National Geographic's Geno 2.0 tests and now offer exome and whole genome sequencing.

Last fall I toured that lab. Using photos and notes from Tim Janzen and some subsequent explanations from FTDNA's Thomas Krahn, CeCe Moore has compiled an illustrated summary of what we learned that day.

FYI, I am the tallest guy in the third photo.

Continue reading "Virtual Tour: FTDNA's DNA Testing Lab"

Feb 07, 2013

Adoption Today Magazine Reviews Book: Finding Family

"Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA" praised by Adoption Today.

Continue reading "Adoption Today Magazine Reviews Book: Finding Family"


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