Kelly Moore has a background in non-clinical healthcare, and currently is on a related career path in Medicaid Managed Care finance. She has a B.A. in Sociology, has a long held interest in genealogy, and is an aspiring search angel. In her path to find her birth parents, Kelly has developed an extensive background in DNA analysis related to adoption.

“DNA Leads an Adopted Daughter to her Birth Mother: Kelly’s Story” (Thurs-115), 10:30-11:45 A.M.

Kelly Moore was raised in Albany, New York. A Catholic child, she was told at an early age that she was adopted. In her mid-twenties, she started the search for her birth parents. A simple Family Tree DNA test yielded surprising results – she had many Jewish matches, and one extremely close match to Jon Stedman.

Kelly got in touch with Karen Franklin, the contact on Family Tree DNA. Jon had died five years earlier, and Karen and upgraded the DNA test results. Karen was able to provide Jon’s research tracing their German Jewish family history back to the mid-18th Century.

In this lecture, Karen and Kelly will describe the DNA analysis and matching methodology, which will be of interest to all genealogists interested in DNA issues, and share the story of Kelly’s reunion with her birth parents. [co-presented with Karen Franklin]

Topics: DNA research and genetics, Ethical considerations in genealogy