DNA Lecture schedule announced for 2014

The schedule of DNA Lectures at Genetic Genealogy Ireland 2014 has been announced. This years schedule is even more packed than last year. With presenters from Ireland, the UK, the US, and Canada, this event is truly international reflecting the diaspora of the 80 million people of Irish descent worldwide. All levels of knowledge are catered for, from beginner to advanced, with representatives from academia as well as citizen science.

Click to enlarge - and see full schedule for each day at the end of this blog

The first lecture each day is devoted to the complete beginner and will help you understand the three main types of DNA test, what they can do for you, and how they can help you break through some of the Brick Walls and Dead Ends in your own family tree research. 

The most popular test at last year's Back to Our Past was autosomal DNA (atDNA, the Family Finder test). This helps you connect with genetic cousins to whom you are related within about 7 generations (i.e. you share one of your 64 4x great grandparents in common). Emily Aulicino takes a closer look at this powerful DNA test and gives examples of how successful it can be at connecting people, while Maurice Gleeson discusses how it can be used to solve adoption mysteries in your family tree. Adoption is also the topic of Rob Warthen's talk - Rob is using DNA to find his wife's biological family and in the process has created tools that have benefitted not only US adoptees but the entire global genetic genealogy community. His is a riveting story that will have you on the edge of your seat.

The keynote address is by Dr Spencer Wells from the National Genographic Project. This ground-breaking research project is mapping the migration of various human groups out of Africa and is telling the story of how Man inhabited every corner of this planet. It is a great honour to have Dr Wells at our meeting and his presentation is not to be missed!

Complimenting the story of human migrations, Gerard Corcoran will give a general overview of migrations into Ireland, whilst Cynthia Wells will discuss the challenges reconstructing the movement of people out of Ireland and into the Caribbean. Dr Daniel Crouch will provide the latest update on the People of the British Isles project which will revolutionise the way atDNA is used to define where in the British Isles your ancestry came from, and Tyrone Bowes will discuss how Y-DNA results can be used to localise Irish ancestral homelands.

In keeping with the millennial celebrations of the Battle of Clontarf, Prof Catherine Swift of Limerick will present on the genetic legacy of Brian Boru. Other Ancient Gaelic dynasties will be discussed by Brad Larkin, Paul Burns (Leinster), Patrick Guinness (North West), and Gerard Corcoran. Genetic Genealogy in Ireland is fast approaching the stage where a DNA test can connect you with a specific ancient genealogy.

This year marks the centenary of the start of World War One during which 49,000 Irish men died. Michelle Leonard will discuss how, 100 years later, the identities of some of the 500,000 men who still lie on the battlefield are being uncovered.

Dr Kirsten Bos will give a fascinating insight into the genetics of Plague, the Black Death, the Irish Potato Famine, and Tuberculosis, all of which killed so many of our ancestors over the centuries. And Paul Burns will discuss the Byrne/Burns/Beirne Surname Project and the Clan O'Byrne of Leinster. Every Irish family tree has a Byrne if you look hard enough!

The future of genetic genealogy will be discussed by Brad Larkin - if you think it is exciting today, wait till you hear where we will be in five years time.

Back to Our Past

17-19 Oct 2014

RDS, Dublin

The full schedule of lectures is below. The type of DNA test which will be covered in each lecture is indicated by a Y for Y-DNA, an M for mitochondrial DNA, and an A for autosomal DNA.

2014	FRIDAY  17 October	Speaker’s summary
	Opens at 12.00
11.30	No lecture (opens at noon)
12.30	Which DNA Test is best for you? Dr Maurice Gleeson, ISOGG YMA	Y-DNA traces your father’s father’s father’s line, mitochondrial DNA traces your mother’s mother’s mother’s line, and autosomal DNA traces everything in between. With the help of practical examples of how DNA solved mysteries related to the Spearin family of Limerick, the bones of Richard III, and a Wedding Memento from the Australian desert, you can decide which test is best suited to solve your own individual genealogical conundrums.
13.30	DNA versus The Irish Annals Brad Larkin, SurnameDNA Journal Y	The topic for discussion will be the major Irish genealogical groups from Irish annals such as high kings, the Uí Néill, and the provincial kings of Connacht, Munster, Leinster, and Ulster as well as Norman lineages.  A brief review of how much modern DNA linked to these lineages has been sampled and how consistent the DNA findings match the ancient genealogies.  This presentation is well suited for those who like to connect historical figures to their genetic genealogy research.
14.30	The Byrne / Burns / Beirne Surname Project Paul Burns, ISOGG Y	This lecture will discuss the history of our Y-DNA project, the many unrelated lineages and clusters discovered along the way, the importance (or lack of) name variations/spellings, and the inaccuracies and mistaken local beliefs that DNA is correcting. It will show how we are using DNA to determine relationships between those with our surnames, and how far along we are tracing the ancient roots of each of our clusters.

15.30	Emerging dynasties in a maritime world – hunting for Brian Boru’s genetic legacy Dr Catherine Swift, University of Limerick Y	The internet is revolutionising academic research, breaking down many pre-existing barriers between university life and the wider world.  Nowhere is this more true than in the field of genetic genealogy and it is local geographic and surname projects, and associated websites, run by citizen scientists, as well as university papers which are forcing the pace of change. This work is characterised by growing expertise in genetics and family history but the key research challenge for medieval historians is to investigate the origin and development of surnames in Ireland and Western Europe. This paper investigates the processes of surname adoption through the pivotal figure of Brian Boru.
16.30	Who’s Your Cousin? atDNA Knows! Emily Aulicino, ISOGG A	Do you know all your cousins?  Autosomal DNA testing matches you with cousins descending from your 4th great-grandparents. This test helps adoptees find family and genealogists resolve lineage problems by finding cousins who can assist with your research. Understand how atDNA is inherited, including the X-chromosome, which differs for each gender.  Discover how to find common ancestors you share with matches using a five-step process.  Learn about others successes. A handout is available. My book Genetic Genealogy: The Basics and Beyond is for sale.  Free draw for the e-book version at the FTDNA stand. Three winners drawn at the presentation.
17.30	How to enhance your Y-DNA results through surname and haplogroup projects John Cleary, ISOGG Y	You gain more value from Y-DNA tests when you join various kinds of group projects, and increase your chances of finding genetic matches.  This talk will present ways in which a surname project (featuring the surname Kemp and two Irish lineages of this name) and a haplogroup project (R1a) have extended what test-takers can understand from their results.  The talk will demonstrate the steps for developing a small surname lineage project, and will introduce two other types of project – geographical and heritage projects (with a Scottish focus) – that provide further ways to explore and compare your test results.
19.00	Closes at 7pm

2014	SATURDAY  18 October	Speaker’s summary
	Opens at 11.00
11.30	DNA for Beginners Debbie Kennett, University College London YMA	This lecture will provide an easy-to-understand introduction to the use of DNA testing as part of your family history research. The cost of DNA testing has dropped dramatically in the last few years and is now affordable for everyone. The Y-chromosome DNA test is widely used in surname projects and explores the direct male line. The mitochondrial DNA test follows the motherline. Both Y-DNA and mtDNA tests can also provide insights into your deep ancestry. Autosomal DNA tests can be used to find matches with genetic cousins within the last five or six generations.
12.30	The Future of Genetic Genealogy Brad Larkin, SurnameDNA Journal YMA	The growth of genetic genealogy has been rapid but exciting new possibilities are forecast from several major developments:  1) continued expansion of the number of markers commercially feasible to test; 2) sampling coverage to approach 100% of the genetic lineages of Ireland and the British Isles; 3) growth of reference databases with phased results and related tools.  These elements in combination will one day allow an individual's raw test results to be linked to an established genetic lineage and its ancestral geography in a matter of moments.  This study is intended for those interested in science, technology, and how genetic genealogy will develop as a field.
13.30	The Clan O'Byrne of Leinster as Defined by its DNA Paul Burns & Richard M Byrne, ISOGG Y	This lecture on the Clan O'Byrne of Leinster will discuss its ancient history from the tribal era when it provided kings of Leinster, its reemergence in the Wicklow Mountains as a close-knit clan, and its dispersal in the 1600s. It will describe its relations to other Leinster clans, and its possible ties to groups abroad--as indicated by DNA. We will show that the clan is not entirely patrilineal, but that it does have a large core that descends from a single ancestor. We will show how DNA has confirmed much of our knowledge of this clan, but also how it also has demolished some beliefs.
14.30	Reconstructing Irish-Caribbean Ancestry Cynthia Wells, iCARA Y A	The middle decades of the 17th century witnessed countless Irish men and women shipped off to an island life of indentured servitude and forced labor never to return to their homeland. While many died quickly working under the harsh conditions of the sugar plantation others melted into a diverse culture that included AmerIndians and Africans. Historian Maurice Ashley wrote “The Caribbean was an area where Europe’s frontiers met”. The West Indies were also part of lucrative trade routes that brought many Caribbean Irish to the British colonies of Rhode Island, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Their descendants are now scattered throughout the United States. Reconstructing Irish Caribbean ancestry through the use of genetic genealogy combined with historical records is the long-term goal of iCARA. My presentation will discuss where the historical records are, what they reveal, and where DNA can lead us.

15.30	Keynote Address: The National Genographic Project Dr Spencer Wells, National Geographic YMA	The Genographic Project is a multiyear research initiative led by National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Spencer Wells. Dr. Wells and a team of renowned international scientists are using cutting-edge genetic and computational technologies to analyze historical patterns in DNA from participants around the world to better understand our human genetic roots. The three components of the project are: 1) to gather and analyze research data in collaboration with indigenous and traditional peoples around the world; 2) to invite the general public to join this real-time scientific project and to learn about their own deep ancestry by purchasing a Genographic Project Participation and DNA Ancestry Kit, Geno 2.0; and 3) to use a portion of the proceeds from Geno 2.0 kit sales to further research and the Genographic Legacy Fund, which in turn supports community-led indigenous conservation and revitalization projects. Dr Wells gives the latest update from this fascinating project that is changing the way we think about who we are and where we come from.
16.30	Plagues of our Ancestors as revealed through Ancient DNA Dr Kirsten Bos, Universitat Tubingen YMA	The recovery of ancient DNA from archeological tissues gives us an important window into the past.  Old bones hold secrets to the lives of our ancestors - who they were, what they ate, where they traveled, and what illnesses they had. Using state of the art biological techniques, we can now get an idea of what pathogens were plaguing people hundreds of years ago. Secrets about the Black Death, the Irish Potato Famine, and tuberculosis will be revealed in exciting detail.
17.30	Solving adoption mysteries in your family tree Dr Maurice Gleeson, ISOGG YA	In some cases, DNA results can instantly connect birth parents with their long since adopted children, or adoptees with their long sought for birth families. Although this is the exception rather than the rule, it makes DNA testing a very attractive prospect for adoptees who have tried every other avenue of enquiry. In addition, DNA testing can be used to help identify the birth father’s surname for male adoptees, and for all adoptees autosomal DNA testing can identify birth families on both the maternal and paternal sides. This presentation explores the new techniques that are making reconnection and reunion an exciting and realistic prospect for adoptees and their biological families.
19.00	Closes at 7pm

2014	SUNDAY  19 October	Speaker’s summary
	Opens at 11.00
11.30	DNA Testing Basics Katherine Borges, ISOGG (Director) YMA	If you are new to DNA testing, this presentation will tell you all you need to know. The three main tests are explained in simple terms so that you can easily see what each can do for you, helping you decide which one would be best to help you in your own family tree research.
12.30	Pinpointing your Irish Origin & beyond Dr Tyrone Bowes, IrishOrigenes Y	A simple painless commercial ancestral Y-DNA test will reveal the names of people (who have also tested) with whom one shares a common male ancestor. But the surnames of those people are not random! Find out what those surnames reveal about your ancestors, how they can be used to pinpoint precisely where your direct male ancestor lived 1000 years ago and how they can be used to reconstruct one’s paternal ancestral journey over many thousands of years.
13.30	Genetic analysis of the People of the British Isles yields historical and physiological insights Dr Daniel Crouch, University of Oxford A	This presentation discusses recent work on the genetic history of Britain and Ireland, and how it is becoming possible to localise your DNA to specific subregions within the two islands. In addition, analysis of facial features, and the specific genes that control our appearance, will be discussed. This presentation addresses several important questions: How were Britain and Ireland populated, and can this question be answered by a genetic analysis using the DNA of living people? What are the genetic relationships between the different regions of the British Isles? What are the genes that control differences in appearance between the people of the British Isles?
14.30	The Clans of the North West and their DNA profiles Patrick Guinness, Author & Historian Y	In 2006 the oldest male-line lineage provable by DNA was revealed to the press and was widely reported around the world. Niall of the Nine Hostage's DNA profile became known as "N9H". However it also was clear that the profile had been around for centuries before he lived, and is found in 5% of men in Britain. Sadly, but informatively, it did not overlap as expected with the Ui Neill clans. This talk explains the context and reveals that some amateur sleuths nearly pipped the academics to the post.
15.30	Finding Sue – How one quest grew into the DNAGedcom & DNAadoption websites Rob Warthen, DNAGedcom YMA	I will be taking you on a journey of discovery.  You will learn more about our DNA Adoption group and all the people who help out.  I will tell you more about Sue’s story and other stories of success and let down. During this journey, I will tell you about the methodology that we use to successfully find birth family.  I will also show you some of the tools that we use to make things easier for you.  The methodologies and tools I will talk about are helpful whether your brick wall is your biological parents or your ancestors from the 1800s. So sit back and enjoy the journey.  Savor every new item and know that each discovery and each failure brings you just one more step towards your goal.

16.30	Identifying the Fallen Soldiers of WW1 – DNA on the battlefield Michelle Leonard, Fromelles Project YM	Every year, the remains of soldiers who fell during WW1 are uncovered during farm work or road widening projects on what was the Western Front. In 2008, the discovery of a mass grave at Fromelles, containing 250 soldiers, led to the establishment of an identification process in which DNA played a crucial role. This presentation reveals how 144 of these 250 men have been positively identified so far, giving these soldiers back their names. In a year that commemorates the centenary of the start of WW1, DNA testing has helped the remembrance process, allowing these men to have gravestones with inscriptions that carry their true identity, rather than the anonymous phrase “Known Unto God”.
17.30	Using Genetic Genealogy to Map Irish Migrations Gerard Corcoran, ISOGG (Ireland) YMA	The presentation will trace the history of migrations into and out of Ireland from the Mesolithic, Neolithic, Copper, Bronze, Iron Ages through Early Christianity, The Celtic Monastic Movement, Vikings, Normans, Gaelic, Tudor, Elizabethan, Cromwellian, Williamite periods, The Wild Geese, The Penal Laws, The Great Famine, Georgian, Victorian and Modern periods. We will look at how the latest Next Generation Sequencing Tests and Ancient Genealogies can help tell these stories. Finally we will look at concrete projects that will help connect the 70 million strong Irish Diaspora to its homeland.
19.00	Closes at 7pm