GENOMIC GENEALOGY

About Me

My name is Daniel and I've been researching my own family tree for more than ten years. In that time, I have traced some of my ancestors back as far at the 1600's and uncovered more than 9,000 relatives spread across the world.

I find genealogical research to be a good way to escape the stress of everyday life. Which is what every pastime is designed to do. But the bonus with genealogical research is that not only do you get to escape from everyday life you also learn more about where you and your family came from. Understanding this puts your life into a broader historical context and helps create a greater sense of connection to the past.

Understanding how to conduct genealogical research is a learning process and as you do more of it you get better at it. Over the years I have learned many of the common pitfalls that people fall into when conducting research so I'm well-placed to help you learn how to conduct your own genealogical research.

A turning point in this research was taking an Ancestry.com DNA test. This opened up a new world of research avenues and has helped me connect with relatives I would otherwise never have uncovered.

I have learned that genealogical research Is not without risk. When undertaking your own research you should expect to find the unexpected. These discoveries might challenge your view of your family's history and of your family relationships. When conducting genealogical research it is important to remember that you are not responsible for the actions of your ancestors.

There is a saying that "blood is thicker than water". It is meant to convey the idea that the strongest bonds we have are with family. But family is a complex idea. You may discover that you aren't genetically related to someone you thought you were, but this doesn't mean they aren't still your family. Or you may find that you are genetically related to someone you never knew about. In which case your family has grown.

Family is a matter of perspective. So, if you do decide to undertake genealogical research, particularly if you are going to undertake genetic testing, go into it with an open mind. Know that you may find things you were never expecting to find and try to view these unexpected discoveries in a positive light.

My main areas of expertise are UK, Australian, Canadian, and US genealogical research as well as genealogical genetic testing and I have a particular interest in Celtic genealogy. Should you desire my assistance in beginning or deepening your genealogical research journey please send me a message using the Contact page.

Warmest regards,

Figure Reference:

Figure 1: DNA molecule - Original work created using PyMol and the PDB dataset from:

Drew, H., Wing, R., Takano, T., Broka, C., Tanaka, S., Itakura, K., & Dickerson, R. (1981, May 21). Structure of a B-DNA dodecamer: Conformation and dynamics. Retrieved from The Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics (RCSB) Protein Data Bank (PDB): https://www.rcsb.org/structure/1BNA