On 5th April 1945 a well spoken and smartly dressed woman left a small baby (later called Linda) in the care of a couple in a King’s Cross flat whilst she went to book a room in a Russell Square hotel. She never returned… Julia Bell will explain how autosomal DNA unlocked this mystery and how she was able to find Linda’s biological parent. Who was the other parent? The answer again lies in autosomal DNA…

Julia Bell
Julia Bell found her WW2 American GI grandfather, Arthur Benager Garrett, in 2014 despite having no name for him or any useable data of any kind. She now has a proven track record for finding GI fathers based in the UK in WW2, relying on DNA results alone. Using a combination of logic and intuition, Julia also works with UK foundlings, who have traditionally had many questions and no answers about their families until now. Originally an English and History graduate, Julia has appeared on TV as the genetic genealogist on a documentary about babies left in public places: Separated at Birth. She has also featured in the press and on BBC Radio 4. While DNA testing in the UK is not yet as extensive as in America, Julia is keen to demonstrate its potential for finding unknown British parents. She already achieves what some have called impossible. Julia also aims to promote genetic genealogy in the UK and to encourage UK database growth.

This lecture was presented at Who Do You Think You Are? – Live! 2017. Please note that these videos are copyrighted to the presenter and should only be used for personal study. They are not to be used for any other purpose without the presenter’s express permission. Also, please note that because this is a rapidly advancing field, the content may quickly become outdated.

The DNA Lectures were sponsored by FamilyTreeDNA (www.ftdna.com) and organised by volunteers from ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogy, www.isogg.org). ISOGG volunteers also provided free DNA advice and support for members of the public at the conference.

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