Join genetic genealogist Gil Bardige for the next installment in his popular genealogy DNA lecture series, when he returns with five unforgettable real-world DNA case studies—some that have solved family mysteries, some that have opened new doors, and others that have proved DNA still has a sense of humor.

In this presentation, Gil will walk you through:

• Mishpocha Triangulation – a new concept to help ensure accurate results & prioritization
• The case of the disappearing cousin — what to do when a known third cousin doesn’t appear as a DNA match.
• “Do you actually know all your second cousins?” — the surprise email from Ancestry that revealed the unexpected.
• Ancestry’s ProTools Shared Matching breakthrough — how enhanced tools uncovered 73 friendly matches and led to adding 49 documented relatives to the family tree.
• Rule Number One… Are you kidding me? — a memorable reminder that even experienced genealogists need to revisit the basics.
• When DNA still can’t help—yet — why some puzzles remain unsolved and how to prepare for future breakthroughs.

Whether you’re a beginner or deep into the weeds of genetic genealogy, you’ll come away with practical approaches, diagnostic strategies, and a renewed appreciation for how DNA can deliver both clarity and chaos—but always teaches us something valuable.

This program is sponsored by the Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute and Ancestry.

About the Speaker
Gil Bardige was born and raised in Chicago and currently lives in the Columbus, Ohio, area. A graduate of the New York Institute of Technology, Gil retired in 2019 after a long career in air conditioning and refrigeration, most recently as a National Business Development Leader for Trane Technologies.

At the “instruction” of his mother, Gil began his genealogy adventure in 1979 with 54 people in his tree. Today, his family tree includes over 3,000 people on four branches, going back to his fifth-great-grandfathers, born in about 1740. His family arrived in Chicago in the early 1900s. For over seventeen years, Gil has expanded his knowledge base to genetic genealogy, testing at each of the four major DNA companies, and he currently manages three Y-DNA projects at Family Tree DNA as a Volunteer Administrator. He loves to help people manage their expectations and begin to remove confusion from their DNA results whether it’s Y-DNA, mtDNA, or Autosomal DNA. He has spoken at dozens of local events and international conferences, including at IAJGS in Orlando, Cleveland, Virtual San Diego, Virtual Philadelphia, London, and most recently in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

Gil is the Chair of the Genealogy Committee of the Columbus Jewish Historical Society (JGS). He co-hosts live Genetic Genealogy Q&A sessions at JGS Illinois and JGS Toronto. Gil developed and hosts the monthly Kvel & Kvetch genealogy Q&A in Columbus. Gil has managed the Mentoring Program for IAJGS and co-hosts the Apple Users and Jewish Genealogy Facebook page and monthly virtual BOF (Birds of a Feather) meeting. Gil is a firm believer that you can use DNA results as a tool in your genealogical research as it generates clues that can help people confirm/deny relationships. His speaking style is high energy (you won’t be bored) and he loves to take questions.