April 25th is DNA Day—a day that marks the discovery of DNA’s double helix in 1953 by James Watson and Francis Crick, and for many, it’s a day to marvel at scientific achievement. For genealogists like me, it’s an opportunity to celebrate the ways DNA has transformed our understanding of our family history.
My dad was my first DNA test subject in 2010, as I hoped that this new test would help me break through a long-standing brick wall in his family tree. I didn’t know just how much it would change the way I see my entire family history.
I’m still working on my Dad’s DNA mystery, but one of the most significant breakthroughs came via my mom’s grandfather, William Beaton. For years, the paper trail left me puzzled until I realized that he was adopted, and so was his sister Annie. That’s when the Beaton Batten Mystery was born.
Using DNA matches and years of sleuthing, I was able to uncover who William’s biological parents were. It was like finding a missing puzzle piece that had been hidden for generations. I still have some work to do in terms of “target testing” to confirm my theory, but I’d never have reached this point without DNA.
I also want to take this day to thank all the family members who have undergone DNA testing to help me work through these mysteries. Without you, I’m not sure where I’d be.
Beyond solving mysteries, DNA has connected me with cousins I never knew I had. Some of them had photographs, letters, and stories that helped bring our shared ancestors to life. I’ve traveled to meet cousins, and it always amazes me how familiar they are despite being someone I’m meeting for the first time.
Over the years, new tools and features from various testing companies, such as Ancestry, MyHeritage, FTDNA, and LivingDNA, as well as third-party providers, have made it increasingly easier to identify connections with our matches.
These tools help reveal relationships that are not immediately apparent, making the process feel a little less like deciphering a science experiment and more like building a family.
So this DNA Day, I’m raising a virtual toast to the science that brought me closer to the past—and to the people who are part of that story.
If you’ve been thinking about testing or digging deeper into your DNA results, there’s no better time than today.
Test at Ancestry, MyHeritage, FTDNA, LivingDNA
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