Shining the Light of DNA on Your Genealogy
by John Blankenbaker
Advances in DNA science can propel our genealogical picture to interesting new perspectives. John Blankenbaker, Germanna Historian Extraordinaire, will share many fascinating insights into how DNA sheds light on where we came from, who our ancestors were, and where they lived. This is a presentation that employs John’s engaging style to help unveil the mysteries of DNA.
You will see your genealogy in a whole new light after this experience.
This is one of the many interesting and informative presentations that you will be able to enjoy on July 17 at the Germanna Conference and Reunion. What will you learn at this presentation?
Can we trace our DNA to Adam? How many years ago did our most common ancestor live? How many generations ago is that?
How far back can we trace our DNA? Is there a clear picture? How do the Neanderthal people fit in?
How does DNA tell us about ancestors that we couldn't possibly have names for? Can we tell how they migrated and how they earned their living? If so, what are the answers?
What does DNA tell us about our European ancestors? Where did they originate and how did they move? What affect did the last glacial maximum have on their migrations?
What are the different DNA groups? How many of these groups are of particular interest to us?
How are those DNA groups determined? What does this tell us?
Are all Germanna ancestors from the same DNA group? Are there different lines? What does that mean? Are all Germanna ancestors from the same male?
What does DNA tell us about our female ancestors?
What does DNA tell us about European ancestors in general? Is there much difference between Germanna DNA and English DNA?
How can DNA be a part of our genealogy work?
What in the world is Epigenetics? And what does Epigenetics tell us?
To get the answers to these questions and more, plan on attending John Blankenbaker’s DNA presentation on July 17 at the Germanna Conference and Reunion.
TO REGISTER FOR THE 2010 CONFERENCE AND REUNION, JUST CLICK HERE
To join the Germanna DNA Project, click here.
Who is John Blankenbaker?
For the few who might not know of John, here you go: John Blankenbaker is the unofficial historian of Germanna. John retired from being a computer engineer in 1985 (he is recognized as having produced the first commercially available personal computer) and since then he has been deeply involved in the study of the Germanna Colonies. For fifteen years he published Beyond Germanna, a newsletter/journal devoted to distributing information about the Germanna people. He also wrote 2,500 Notes that were distributed and archived on Rootsweb.
He has given many talks for Germanna audiences and he has joined in making CDs of the history of the people in the Robinson River Valley. He has published four books: The Culpeper Classes, "Hebron" Baptismal Register, "Hebron" Communion Lists (with Andreas Mielke), and The Second Germanna Colony and Other Pioneers (number 18 in the Germanna Record series) and he has also published two CDs, Beyond Germanna and Germanna Villages, a Photographic Essay.
John and his wife Eleanor have made trips on their own to Germany and Austria where they visited ancestral homes and relatives. More information about John and his work is available on these websites: www.germanna.com, www.kenbak-1.net, and www.pa-palam.org. John has relatives in the First Colony, many in the Second Colony, and some in the later comers. His grandfather, John Henry Blankenbaker was descended only from German immigrants, most of whom came in 1717.