Hi, I’m Rosilyn!
Wouldn’t it be great if you could do something meaningful with your genetic testing results? Something beyond completing another online family tree?
I’m one of the people who dove in head first when genetic testing became available through sites like 23andMe and Ancestry. And, while knowing exactly how much of my DNA was West African, and discovering strangers who share DNA with me was nice, I quickly realized that for all of this information being exchanged, I wasn’t getting any real value, just data points: “Oh, you’re my (20th!) 6th cousin; we share .03% DNA,” etc. Plus, with the very complicated African American history in the U.S., connecting the dots is not as simple as finding a record of my family’s Ellis Island arrival.
So, while it was all fairly interesting, the only real thing I got from DNA testing was just more data. I wanted to find a way to make real use of the information I discovered.
And then it hit me: Music!
Music is universal and timeless. DNA is universal and timeless. So why not create a playlist compiled by people with whom I share DNA?
I asked every person I was related to on the site one simple question: What’s your favorite song? And Universal DNA Playlist was born!
Feel free to browse the site, listen to my playlist, and use the tips to make your own.

Get the stories behind the songs!
Latest news
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Oct, 3
Catching up with the Team at YourDNAGuide.com!
Among all of the special experiences I had at RootsTech 2020, I had the pleasure of running into the folks at YourDNAGuide—a team of DNA experts that helps you knock out those brick walls you encounter on your family history journey—and getting featured on their blog! Click here to check out the article and video […]
Read more Catching up with the Team at YourDNAGuide.com!May, 19What’s the first thing on your mind when you wake up?
While lots of folks wake up in the morning trying to remember the crazy dream from the night before, I wake up with a song in my head. Most mornings without fail, upon awaking, I’m greeted by a random song—not random because I don’t know it, but random because I can’t figure out why this […]
Read more What’s the first thing on your mind when you wake up? -
Sep, 18
Are you attending RootsTech? Come say hi!
So, I’ve always had this weird obsession with Salt Lake City and I am thrilled to announce that I will finally get to visit! I’ll be speaking at RootsTech in Salt Lake City, UT in February 2020. If you’re a seasoned genealogy buff, you’re probably familiar with RootsTech. For the uninitiated, here’s the scoop: RootsTech […]
Read more Are you attending RootsTech? Come say hi!Apr, 28This Song Has Been Scientifically Proven to Reduce Anxiety
No matter how minor or major the episode, everyone can always use a tip to reduce anxiety and here’s one that’s backed by science and works instantly. A new study revealed that listening to Weightless by Marconi Union reduces anxiety by 65%. To see the scient behind the study, click here to read Melanie Curtin’s […]
Read more This Song Has Been Scientifically Proven to Reduce Anxiety -
Jan, 21
DNA RELATIVE PROFILE: MEET THERESA!
The latest DNA relative is Theresa. Theresa lives in NY and became interested in her DNA profile when she learned from a doctor that she shared some peculiar blood work results that were more consistent with African Americans even though as far as she knew, she was Caucasian. Once Theresa, who is adopted, received her […]
Read more DNA RELATIVE PROFILE: MEET THERESA!Jan, 9Did you see today’s Google Doodle?
I had to make a quick post about today’s Google Doodle because there would be no Universal DNA Playlist without the person Google honored today with their Doodle. “The Google Doodle honors Har Gobind Khorana, who won a Nobel Prize in 1968 for his work on genes and nucleotides, which are the basic structural units […]
Read more Did you see today’s Google Doodle? -
May, 14
Viva Amoeba!
When is the last time you walked into a record store? For me, it’s been uhh whiiile. Back in the day I used to go to Sam Goody, CD Source, and my local record stores and spend hours just touching, looking and listening to great music, but since the way we consume music has changed […]
Read more Viva Amoeba!May, 7DNA Relative Profile: Meet Neville!
Here’s a brand spanking new DNA relative profile from Neville, a change management professional in DC, great artist and my 5th cousin according to DNA ancestry! Read below to learn more about Neville (pictured below with his fiancé.) TELL ME ABOUT YOU! My name is Neville, I’m 32 years old and reside in the Washington, […]
Read more DNA Relative Profile: Meet Neville! -
Mar, 26
Let’s Make a Mixtape!
One of the things I enjoyed most about creating the Universal DNA playlist was collecting the songs. It reminded me of (prepare to listen to me sound really old) back in the day when friends would make each other mixtapes just because. The deliberateness of choosing songs for someone and turning them into a mixtape […]
Read more Let’s Make a Mixtape!Mar, 18DNA Relative Profile: Meet Kerri-Leigh!
Kerri-Leigh and I are 5th cousins and her contribution to the DNA playlist was Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash Into Me.” Kerri is pretty bad-ass—and I’m not just saying that because we share DNA, or because I’m obsessed with all things 80s and her look in the picture is so 80s, I’m saying it because she […]
Read more DNA Relative Profile: Meet Kerri-Leigh!