Review: The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger

The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy. By Blaine T. Bettinger, Family Tree Books, 2016, 239 p.

            There’s been a lot of buzz around Blaine T. Bettinger’s book on DNA testing, and a quick browse through its pages reveals why it has been received with such enthusiasm by the genealogy community. It’s a comprehensive guide covering all types of DNA testing available to genealogists, and it is as useful to genealogists who have yet to take a DNA test, as it is to those who have. Bettinger is an intellectual property lawyer with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. He is also an accomplished, professional genealogist whose unique career experiences make him well informed about the ins and outs of DNA testing and the issues surrounding its use in genealogy.

            The author has divided the book into three major sections: “Getting Started,” “Selecting a Test,” and “Analyzing and Applying Test Results.” The first part provides an easy-to-follow, and detailed explanation of basic key terms and concepts in the study of DNA, including the common misconceptions that crop up around DNA testing. Bettinger also provides a thoughtful discussion on the ethical issues a genealogist might encounter when testing, and how to handle sensitive information in a conscientious manner.

            For those readers who have not yet submitted their DNA for testing, the second part of the book will be of high value. Four types of testing are explained in detail: Mitochondrial-DNA, Y-Chromosomal, Autosomal-DNA and X-Chromosomal. Case study examples are provided to highlight how each type of test can be used in a practical way in genealogy. Throughout the book, full-colour charts are used to complement the textual information.

            The third part of the book sets out to assist readers in selecting the most appropriate testing company for their needs, and after the selection, how to best to analyze the test results. Included in the appendix, are numerous chart templates to help make analysis easier. Whole chapters are devoted to strategies for adoptees who want to use DNA to locate living relatives, as well as to “ethnicity estimations,” and the truth surrounding the reliability of those ethnicity pie charts.

            The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy is a helpful guide that explains the complex concepts of DNA in a clear and concise manner, without overloading readers with an excessive amount of scientific jargon.