DNA DEMYSTIFIED – Mixing DNA results with a paper trail
Dr Penny Walters
August 1st, 10.30
Outwood Hall / Zoom
Have you done a test and you’re not sure what the results mean? Or, are you not sure whether to
even do a DNA test? Haven’t there been some scandals surrounding them? What would the benefits
of doing a DNA test be when you’ve already done a thorough paper trail? When I got my DNA test
results back a few years ago, I didn’t understand the jargon and the statistics, and the implications of
the results were lost on me. Different DNA testing companies test slightly different things, each
company has its own advantages and disadvantages, and different useful extra tools, so which test is
best for your research? Mixing DNA results with a paper trail will be explained. Maybe you were
adopted and would like some help potentially looking for biological relatives. This presentation will
walk you through the initial stages of understanding your DNA test results. Ethical dilemmas will also
be discussed.
Dr. Penny Walters has been a University lecturer for 35 years, currently teaching at Bath Spa
University Business School, England. Penny’s interest in genealogy started after having her first baby
and then wondering about her own biological parents, as she was adopted. Penny has six mixed race
children, who have all enjoyed discovering their roots through DNA ethnicity results. Penny lectures
internationally in-person, including throughout America, Australia, Ireland, and the UK. Penny has
authored the books: “Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy” (2019), ‘The Psychology of Searching’ (2020),
and ‘An Introduction to Starting a Family Tree Combined with DNA’ (2026) available on Amazon in
paperback or on kindle. www.searchmypast.co.uk
