Chris Pomery

The first decade of the new millennium has been an exciting time for the family historian. The increasing availability of online resources has transformed the genealogical research process. DNA testing and the new generation of social networking websites have developed in parallel and are becoming increasingly useful tools. DNA testing can now be used to prove or disprove genealogical connections and will put you in touch with your genetic cousins around the world. It can also take you back beyond the paper trail into your pre-surname history. Social networking tools can help you to find and stay in touch with friends and relatives, and provide new ways to share and collaborate with other researchers. This book looks at all the latest advances in DNA testing from the Y-chromosome tests used in surname projects through to the latest autosomal DNA tests. Debbie Kennett explores the use of new social media, including Facebook, Twitter, blogs and wikis, along with more traditional networking methods. DNA and Social Networking is an indispensable guide to the use of twenty-first-century technology in family history research.

In the wake of highly-publicized scientific breakthroughs in using genetics to establish family connections, genealogists began to see potential for their own research. Now many are finding that organizing tests is a relatively straightforward matter - and that comparing the DNA signatures of individuals can reveal startling information on families, surnames and origins. Here Chris Pomery explains the practicalities of testing and interpreting the results. He also takes an objective look at the issues. Whether you are simply seeking to stay informed, actively interested in exploiting the technology, or already part of a DNA project, this is the one guide that fully explores the existing possibilities. Chris Pomery is organizer of the pioneering Pomeroy study, which has been widely cited in coverage including Radio 4's Surnames, Genes and Genealogy and Steve Jones' controversial book Y: The Descent of Men. He lives in Cornwall, England.