Practice Test Geeks(BCG) Board for the Certification of Genealogists Practice Test
← All BCG Flashcard Decks

BCG DNA & Genetic Genealogy Flashcards

6 cards from real BCG practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 BCG DNA & Genetic Genealogy flashcards as text

  1. What type of DNA is inherited from both parents but recombines each generation, making it useful for identifying relatives within approximately 5–6 generations?

    Answer: Autosomal DNA

    Autosomal DNA is inherited from both parents and undergoes recombination, making it effective for identifying relatives within roughly five to six generations.

  2. Which term describes the process of grouping DNA matches into clusters based on shared matches to identify likely common ancestors?

    Answer: Clustering

    Clustering organizes DNA matches into groups of individuals who share matches with each other, helping identify which ancestral line a match belongs to.

  3. What is a 'false positive' in the context of genetic genealogy matches?

    Answer: A DNA segment that appears shared due to population endogamy or statistical noise rather than a true genealogical relationship

    False positive matches occur when shared DNA segments reflect population patterns or statistical artifacts rather than a verifiable common ancestor.

  4. Under BCG standards, which statement best describes how genetic genealogy evidence should be cited?

    Answer: Cite the testing company, kit number, test date, match name, and shared DNA amount

    Proper citation of DNA evidence includes the testing company, kit number, test date, match identity, and shared segment data to enable verification.

  5. What does 'phasing' accomplish in the analysis of autosomal DNA results?

    Answer: It assigns DNA segments to the maternal or paternal chromosome of the tested individual

    Phasing assigns each DNA segment to either the maternal or paternal chromosome, clarifying which parent a match's shared DNA comes through.

  6. Which BCG competency is demonstrated when a genealogist accurately interprets a DNA match's relationship range and integrates it with documentary evidence?

    Answer: Evidence correlation and analysis

    Correlating DNA relationship predictions with documentary genealogical evidence demonstrates the core BCG competency of evidence analysis and correlation.

How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

  1. bcgcertification.org — Exam format, eligibility, fees, late registration, passing score, renewal, retake fee, retake policy, score release, score validity · verified Oct 2026