Episode 263 - Blaine Bettinger Talks Ancestral Spit & Police Use Of DNA

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. David begins the segment talking about how you can preserve the history of your Christmas ornaments. David recently observed that he still has ornaments from his mother's childhood in the 1930s, and several from his own youth, and notes, what happens when they are lost or broken? The guys then kick off Family Histoire News talking about a recent story where an African-American woman was shocked to receive DNA results indicating she was not African-American. Then, facial recognition technology is being used to help identify unidentified Civil War photos. The guys explain how the tech may help you in other areas in the future. Who would have ever thought a toy monkey could reunite a family separated by the Holocaust? It has happened! Hear the details. David's Blogger Spotlight this week shines on Claire Santry of Irishgenealogynews.com. Claire is constantly keeping Irish researchers up to speed on Ireland's ongoing efforts to share records for free on line.

Next, Fisher visits with renowned DNA specialist Blaine Bettinger. Blaine is excited about new DNA technology that may be able to reveal to you the full profile of your long deceased ancestors through the analysis of old, licked envelopes. Hear what Blaine has to say about the benefits to your research and the potential costs. In a second segment, Fisher and Blaine talk about the ethics issues involved in the use of DNA on GEDMatch for solving horrific cold cases.

Tom Perry comes on next to talk preservation. Fisher has discovered some ancient equipment in his home… an old reel-to-reel tape recorder and a movie projector and screen. Hear what Tom says Fisher should do with these items and similar old equipment.

Tom then talks about proper storage for the materials you're still waiting to have transferred.

That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!