As of TODAY, The Genetic Genealogist is 10 years old!
Ten years ago today on February 12, 2007, I published my very first blog post, called “New estimates for the arrival of the earliest Native Americans.” Ten years have flown by faster than I could have imagined, and yet my life is so different that it was back then!
Since that day in 2007, I’ve written 594 blog posts (that’s about one a week), totaling a mind-blowing 289,319 words! See below for more stats and information about the first 10 years here at The Genetic Genealogist.
To thank my readers, including all of your incredible encouragement, comments, tweets, and emails, I’m hosting a sweepstakes for my 10th Blogiversary! I have one copy of each of my genetic genealogy books (including Genetic Genealogy in Practice co-authored with Debbie Parker Wayne). These are the very first copies of these books that I ever signed!
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10 Years of The Genetic Genealogist
I took my first test in 2003, but just a few years later I started the blog because I was frustrated with the lack of information available to genealogists. There was really only mtDNA and Y-DNA testing, and there were almost no resources available.
Subsequently starting the blog was one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made. Within the next year I was asked to speak at a local event, which led to more speaking, then to teaching, and then to writing. It all traces back to the blog, and I’m so thankful I made that decision!
As of today, my top 10 posts of the past 10 years are the following:
- “A Review of AncestryDNA – Ancestry.com’s New Autosomal DNA Test” – April 2, 2012
- “What Else Can I Do With My DNA Test Results?” – September 22, 2013
- “Problems with AncestryDNA’s Genetic Ethnicity Prediction?” – June 19, 2012
- “Unlocking the Genealogical Secrets of the X Chromosome” – December 21, 2008
- “More X-Chromosome Charts” – January 12, 2009
- “AncestryDNA Launches New Ethnicity Estimate” – September 12, 2003
- “Q&A: Everyone Has Two Family Trees – A Genealogical Tree and a Genetic Tree” – November 10, 2009
- “A Review of Family Tree DNA’s Family Finder – Part I” – July 19, 2010
- “Is Genetic Genealogy A Scam?” – April 25, 2007
- “The Family Tree of Blue-Eyed Individuals” – February 6, 2008
It’s a wide mix of posts, ranging from the first few months of the blog in 2007 to 2013.
The Future of The Genetic Genealogist
Ten years later, I am still in love with genetic genealogy. I enjoy experimenting with and sharing ideas, and I enjoy writing, so I don’t see any end in sight.
Thank you to everyone who reads TGG and shares their thoughts here as well!
I’m looking forward to 10 more years of blogging!
You and your ilk are just amazing Blaine, and so appreciated! Thank you!
Congrats on ten years of blogging! Looking forward to your continued insights.
That’s a great milestone – congrats! I first attended a seminar of yours at NERGC several years ago and your definition of one’s Genetic Family Tree vs. the Genealogical Family Tree is something I share with people just entering the world of DNA testing. It really gets to the heart of the matter. Your most recent blog on the loss of Native American and African American DNA segments over 3 generations was shared by me to a Facebook group where it was very relevant to many of us. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to NERGC 2017 in April.
Congratulations on a decade of blogging! See you at NERGC in April.
Congrats Blaine!!! 10 years is a long time in any industry but in this one, it’s forever. That was also very early for blogging itself so you were really on the frontier in two ways. I always enjoy and recommend your blog.
Blaine, thanks for all that you do as the DNA Genetic Genealogist.
Congrats, Blaine! You and your genetic genealogy colleagues have done more for the advancement of genealogical research than you will ever know!
Hi Blaine –
Congratulations! I can’t begin to tell you how relevant, clear and concise your blogs have been. Superbly written – the Blogs of Blaine are a must for every genetic genealogist, beginner or advanced.
Congratulations, Blaine!
Blaine, I very much enjoyed your presentation to the BCGS on Sat, March 25, 2017. I am looking forward to hopefuly knocking down a brick wall or two using the information you gave us.
Not sure where to post this comment so I used this post.
I have both of your books and they are very helpful. Thank you for publishing. I think I have found a typo in “The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy.
On page 87, you discuss the possible relationships between Riley Graham and the people in the table. In the paragraph immediately under the table, the book says that Roger and John Thomas have a genetic distance of 2. I think this should be Riley and John Thomas.
Congratulations Blaine! The Genetic Genealogist is an absolute delight to read. It has undoubtedly gotten more people interested in testing their own genetic lineage- https://www.dnatestreview.org/ is a great website for people looking to do so. It compares different kits available in the market and offers great deals. Do check it out, Congratulations, once again!