How to Organise a DNA Study
A DNA study brings together people who want to answer a shared question, such as whether everyone with a particular surname descends from one man. Good planning makes the difference between a pile of results and real answers.
1. Define the question
Write down what you want to find out. “Are the Smith families of two neighbouring parishes related?” is a question DNA can address; “Where do all Smiths come from?” is not.
2. Choose the right test
- Use Y-DNA for questions about a surname or a direct paternal line.
- Use mtDNA for direct maternal-line questions.
- Use autosomal DNA for relationships within the last few generations on any line.
3. Recruit participants
Start from documented family trees and invite people who represent different branches. Two testers from each branch you are comparing are far more informative than many testers from one branch.
4. Get informed consent
Explain what will be tested, who will see the results and how they will be shared, and let participants withdraw. The genetic genealogy standards published through ISOGG set out good practice on consent and privacy that is worth following.
5. Keep good records
- Link each kit to the participant’s documented line of descent.
- Record the oldest known ancestor for each line.
- Keep contact details separate from published results.
6. Review and publish
Group testers by matching results, compare the groups with the paper trail, and share findings with participants first. See publishing DNA results responsibly.