Blog
Proving Your Pedigree with DNA
- December 5, 2025
- Posted by: Melody Daisson
- Category: DNA Dreamers

Back by Popular Demand!
Proving Your Pedigree with DNA
Part of the DNA Dreamers Series
Karen Stanbary, MA, LCSW, CG®, CGG®
The Salt Lake Genealogy Institute of Genealogy is pleased to welcome back Proving Your Pedigree With DNA as part of the DNA Dreamers Series coordinated by Karen Stanbary, MA, LCSW, CG, CGG! This intermediate course’s unique programming elevates the student’s skill from viewing DNA match lists to analyzing DNA to provide meaningful analysis that proves biological relationships from one generation to the next.
Karen begins the five-week course by discussing DNA-related standards in the context of established genealogy methodology and principles. Angela McGhie CG®, FUGA, will guide the class in making the best decisions about selecting the most reliable sources to prove parent-child relationships. Students will be given a template to assess the quality of their documentary sources and learn how to create a descending genealogy. This is only the beginning!
Over the next four weeks, students will learn the following skillsets:
- Autosomal DNA: Test Taker Analysis, Pedigree Evaluation, and Mitigation
- Case Study: Filtering and Sorting Matches
- Traced Descendant Trees, Strategies to Identify Focal Study Group Test Takers
- Tips for Searching and Communicating with Living People
- Writing About Proof of Biological Relationships
At the end of each day, students have the opportunity to discuss their project in a 20-minute one-on-one mentoring session with a course faculty member! Karen, Angela, Tom Jones CG®, CGG®, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, Jen Zinck CG®, AG®, and Kaelyn Deeter will help you with your analysis and answer questions about your specific project. Note: It is not appropriate to use any project that you plan to use as part of a portfolio for BCG Credentialing.
Set Yourself Up For Success Before the Course Begins:
- This intermediate autosomal DNA methodology course assumes prior knowledge. It will not cover beginner topics such as inheritance patterns, tools, or reference materials. The prerequisite is completion of full-week institute courses in two categories at any genealogical institute.
- An intermediate level methodology course, such as Intermediate Foundations, Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies, Digger Deeper: Records, Tools and Skills
- A DNA course such as: Beginning DNA, Introduction to Genetic Genealogy, Practical Genetic Genealogy, All-DNA Evidence Analysis Practicum
- Complete the prerequisite reading.
- Jones, Thomas W. Mastering Genealogical Proof. Arlington, Va.: National Genealogical Society, 2013.
- Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, 4th ed. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2024. Please study the first three chapters.
- Search your pedigree and choose a simple family to work on in class. The ideal pedigree to work on is one that you can easily document parent-child relationships. Choose a line that you have already reported, or that is well documented in an online tree. The goal of this course is to learn how to combine documentary evidence and DNA analysis to prove a biological relationship. Once you complete this course, you can tackle more challenging problems in your pedigree.
- Ensure that you have at least one autosomal DNA test. Test the oldest living generation on the line that you plan on working on during the course. If you only have your DNA test results, Karen and her faculty can help you make them work!
Completion of this course will serve as a prerequisite for the traditional Advanced DNA courses coordinated by Karen Stanbary and offered at SLIG and IGHR.
NEW THIS YEAR:
This course will also serve as a prerequisite for the new hands-on mini–DNA Workshops, which will focus on one advanced DNA analysis strategy or methodology over one to two days. These workshops will launch late in 2026.