DNA delights at Who Do You Think You Are? Live 2017

There is just one week to go until Who Do You Think You Are? Live – the largest and most important genealogy event in the UK. I've been going to WDYTYA every year from 2008 onwards, and it's been interesting to see how the show has changed over the years, and especially with the move from London to Birmingham in recent years. DNA has increasingly become an important feature and is very much dominating the lecture schedule this year. Whether you're just starting out or you're already a seasoned genetic genealogy addict there will be plenty of interest in the extensive programme of talks.

Family Tree DNA are once again sponsoring the DNA Workshop. There is another great line-up of speakers with a good mix of genetic genealogists and academics. I've compiled the FTDNA talks into a table below for easy reference. To see the full descriptions and the speaker details check out the Family Tree DNA Theatre Timetable on the WDYTYA website.

The DNA Workshop lectures are offered on a first come first served basis, but to guarantee a seat make sure you get to the theatre early. The three lectures in the DNA Workshop at 1.15 pm each day (highlighted in red below) will be held in SOG Theatre 2. A ticket is required to attend these talks. You can either book tickets in advance online or purchase a ticket on the day from the workshop ticketing area which is just inside the main entrance of the NEC on your left as you go into the building.

Time	Thursday 6th April 9.30 – 5.30pm	Friday 7th April 9.30 – 5.30pm	Saturday 8th April 9.30 – 5.30pm
10.15	DNA for beginners Linda Magellan	Finding your way  through DNA Emily Aulicino	The ABCs of DNA: DNA testing for absolute beginners Linda Kerr
11.15	Katherine Borges The benefits of being a DNA project administrator	Autosomal DNA demystified Debbie Kennett	What can autosomal DNA testing do for your family tree? Michelle Leonard
12.15	The science of admixture percentages Garrett Hellenthal University College London	What is SNP testing and how can it enhance a Y-DNA surname or genealogy project? John Cleary	Recent findings in Ancient Irish DNA Professor Dan Bradley Trinity College Dublin
13.15	SOG Theatre 2 Discovering Richard III Turi King University of Leicester	SOG Theatre 2 The Y-DNA and mtDNA landscape of Britain and Europe Professor Mark Jobling University of Leicester	SOG Theatre 2 Ancient DNA and British genetic history Professor Mark Thomas University College London
14.15	The strange affair of the Kings Cross baby and other mysteries solved with autosomal DNA Julia Bell	DNA, emigration and shipping Brian Swann	Digging up your ancestors for DNA? Andrew Millard University of Durham
15.15	Researching your surname with Y-DNA Maurice Gleeson	Y-chromosome SNPs in the historical era: discovering cascading hierarchies of SNPs Graham Holton	Applying forensic DNA techniques and applications to historical casework Victoria Moore
16.15	Ask the DNA experts	Ask the DNA experts	Ask the DNA experts

In addition to the FTDNA workshop there are also a number of DNA talks in the other theatres. I've provided a list below. For all these talks you will need to book tickets in advance online or purchase a ticket on the day from the workshop ticketing area.

SOG Theatre 1 (Celebrity Theatre)
Thursday 6th April at 11.15
Anna Swayne and Mike Mulligan of AncestryDNA
Introduction to AncestryDNA

Friday 7th April at 11.15 am
Sir Tony Robinson on behalf of Ancestry DNA
"DNA: The passport for your family history journey - How your DNA has travelled the world with your ancestors"

Friday 7th April at 3.15 pm
Lauren Treasure and Anna Swayne from AncestryDNA
What's new to AncestryDNA

Saturday 8th April at 11.15 am
Angie Bush on behalf of AncestryDNA
ProGen - DNA and the Paper Trail: An Essential Combination

Saturday 8th April at 3.15 pm
Dr Adam Rutherford hosted by AncestryDNA
A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived
Adam is the presenter of BBC Radio 4's Inside Science programme. He is a geneticist and also a very entertaining speaker

SOG Theatre 3
Thursday 6th April at 10.15 am
David Nicholson, Alexander Cocker and Martin Blythe from Living DNA
High definition ancestry testing in the UK

Friday 7th April at 11.15 am

Cancer Research UK

What are the chances? The science of inheritance, genes and cancer"

Friday 7th April at 3.15 pm

David Nicholson, Alexander Cocker and Martin Blythe from Living DNA

High definition DNA ancestry testing across the world

Saturday 8th April at 12.15 pm

David Nicholson, Alexander Cocker and Martin Blythe from Living DNA

High definition ancestry testing in the UK

Exhibitors
There is the usual wide range of exhibitors. For full details see the list on the WDYTYA Live website. Three DNA companies – AncestryDNA, Family Tree DNA and Living DNA – will be in attendance. The companies usually have a special show price so if you were thinking of getting tested this is a good time to pick up a kit. The International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) will be on Stand 184 providing free advice on DNA testing. Check out the surname poster on the ISOGG stand to see if your name qualifies for a free Y-DNA test.

The Guild of One-Name Studies will be on Stand 97-99 and will be handing out free surname maps. Many of my fellow Guild members are running DNA projects as part of their one-name studies, and Guild members benefit from being able to order discounted DNA kits all year round. If you want to find out more come along to the Guild stand and have a chat.

This is a particularly busy time of year as we also have a get-together this weekend for the Guild's Annual Conference which is taking place in Southampton. We have some DNA sessions lined up for Friday afternoon. My slides are all prepared and I look forward to catching up with everyone tomorrow.