DNA in Genealogy:
Testing, Tools and Techniques
Feb. 8 – March 15, 2021
Classes Monday, 10:30 a.m. – noon
Free Six-Part Series
The Office of Senior and Social Services (OSSS) is pleased to bring this series to Bernalillo County residents. The meeting will open up five minutes prior to start time so individuals may enter and be ready to begin at 10:30 a.m. Classes are recorded for playback.
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Introduction to DNA Testing for Genealogy
Which five companies offer at home DNA testing to the public, the three DNA tests available, which tests are offered by each company and their approximate cost, the pros and cons of each company and what do the testing results look like. Each company provides you with a different estimate of your ethnicity. What is matching and how to use it to verify existing kin and find new kin.
About the Presenter
John Adam Farris
John Farris was born in Albuquerque and educated in the Albuquerque Public Schools and the University of New Mexico with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering. He served two-years in the USAF in Dayton, Ohio and was involved in research and development for aircraft hydraulic systems during the Korean War. He worked 41+ years for Pall Corp, mostly in Long Island, New York, in various engineering, sales, marketing and administrative capacities including serving as president of a Pall subsidiary. John holds two patents in advanced filtration hardware and retired as a Pall Corporate Vice President. While at Pall he lectured over most of the world on how to prevent fine dirt (silt) from causing abrasive wear in lubricated bearings and hydraulic systems.
John was a very early adopter of DNA testing because of the benefit to genealogy and was first tested for Y-DNA in 2004 and in 2010 for atDNA. He is the volunteer administrator of the Farris Surname Group Project at Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) for Y and mtDNA with over 200 members. He has been tested for his DNA by nine companies and has done every DNA test now available including the full genome – where he awaits his results. In 2020 he arranged at FTDNA for the first ever test results of atDNA and Y-DNA/111 extracted from a hair root taken from a recently embalmed male cadaver.
John now lectures and consults via Zoom on how to use DNA results to solve family history problems. He regularly teaches about DNA at UNM/OSHER and has also spoken to DAR, SAR and many other organizations in New Mexico. Prior to Covid-19, he volunteered at the wonderful genealogy floor of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Main Library.
John was married to the late violinist Jo Margaret Gore Farris and has four children and nine grandchildren. He is active in the First Presbyterian Church where he was an active Elder and he will sing bass again in the chancel choir when the current pandemic is controlled.
Bernalillo County and OSSS wish to thank accomplished genealogists Martin Brady, Philip Spivey, Lark Robart, John Adam Farris and the Albuquerque Genealogical Society for their expertise and valuable assistance for the DNA in Genealogy Series.
This series will use webinar settings in Zoom which disables audio and video of the registrants, but can enable for questions when needed. All registrants are sent a reminder email an hour before each class with the link to join and the password.
If you have specific questions for the class, please email BCOSSS@bernco.gov attn: Veronica Cordova, Subject: DNA Question.
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