Michelle Patient
Professional Genealogist
With a degree in Pure and Applied Chemistry and technical qualifications in Geology, Michelle Patient has a love of data, facts and research. Working for many years in civil engineering laboratories before moving into programming databases for marketing projects, she has spoken to various community and work-related groups since the 1970s. She has been using computers and the internet since the 1980s, and since becoming addicted to genealogy in 1999 she enjoys helping others make the most out of using technology to help further their research. Now a DNA specialist, she volunteers for a number of genealogy societies and is one of the DNA consultants behind the new SBS TV series Every Family has a Secret.
connect with Michelle
Michelle’s talks – Canberra
Beginner
Which company to test with? Pros and cons – An overview of the five main testing companies, 23andMe, AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, LivingDNA and MyHeritage. Michelle will cover important features and benefits and other issues to think about, to help you decide which test and which company to go with next.
Melbourne, Canberra
All levels
Exploring ethnicity estimates – There is a lot of hype and confusion around ethnicity results ranging from they are just fun through to they are a complete waste of time. In this talk, Michelle will discuss what the tests can reveal. She will compare the work done by the different companies and explain how the results can be useful for understanding our ancestors.
Melbourne, Canberra
Michelle’s talks – Sydney
All levels
Breakthroughs, surprises and skeletons – Who to test, ethical considerations and other issues to think about when you use DNA testing for Family History.
Intermediate
An unknown way – Many of us have recent unknown parentage in our ancestry, be it adoptees, donor conceived, foundlings or more commonly an illegitimate christening of an ancestor. Join us as Michelle discusses the process she uses with DNA to help resolve the identity of these unknown relatives.
All levels
DNA and adoption down under – DNA has been a game changer for adoptees looking for their roots, living relatives and medical history. Louise and Michelle discuss some of the aspects around using DNA for adoptees with specific reference to Australia and New Zealand conditions.
All levels
A look at LivingDNA and 23andMe – Heard of LivingDNA and/or 23andMe and wondering if expanding your DNA research to include them is for you? Michelle will cover their sampling processes, what each companies results look like and demonstrate some of the benefits of widening the DNA pool to include these companies.
All levels
Where else to look? When matches don’t reply – Ha