This chart from the Shared cM Project shows ranges of total shared cMs observed for known relationship levels at each of the major DNA testing companies. An interactive version is available through DNA Painter’s Shared cM Project Tool. Courtesy of Blaine T. Bettinger, thegeneticgenealogist.com, CC 4.0 Attribution License. In previous articles, I have introduced the Shared cM Project and tools for evaluating shared DNA at DNA Painter. This column explores the resources in more detail and … [Read more...]
How To Create Diagrams and Charts for Genetic Genealogy Research
This article is based on a similar article in the July - September 2022 issue of NGS Magazine and is republished here with permission. The Leeds Method, developed by Dana Leeds, enables genetic genealogy researchers to identify clusters of genetic cousins, based on color-code assignment of close matches and their shared genetic cousins. Chart created by author. Genealogists reporting on research should consider the use of charts, diagrams, tables, maps, and other figures to clearly … [Read more...]
Five Tips for Contacting Genetic Cousins
Prior to contacting a genetic cousin, perform a preliminary search to estimate the potential nature of the relationship, what ancestral line may be the source of the shared DNA, and whether there are any shared ancestral locations, surnames or ancestor. Including details from this preliminary search in initial contacts can increase the chances of a response. (This article first appeared in DNA Discovery and has been republished here with permission). In all genealogical investigation, … [Read more...]
How To Prove The Exact Nature of Misattributed Parentage With DNA Testing
This article was originally published in National Genealogy Society Magazine as “Broken Branches: Detecting Cases of Misattributed Parentage with DNA Evidence,” and is republished here with permission. DNA testing can sometimes uncover unexpected cases of misattributed parentage along the ancestral lines of a test taker or matches. As a result, entire limbs of a proposed family tree may be broken off and may need to be replaced through research and exploration of the biological … [Read more...]
7 Strategies to Set Up Your DNA Project for Success
DNA testing plans and knowing how to set up a DNA project for success makes all the difference in solving family tree mysteries. At Legacy Tree Genealogists, we have helped thousands of clients utilize DNA evidence in the exploration of their family history research questions. From recent unknown parentage to historic misattributed ancestry, we have observed again and again that by inviting the right people to perform DNA testing in the right DNA databases, stubborn genealogy brick walls come … [Read more...]
Part Two: MyHeritage DNA Theories of Family Relativity
Theories of Family Relativity is part two of a series of articles to help you navigate MyHeritage DNA matches and tools. Read part one here. Genetic genealogy is founded on the observation that when two testers share DNA, they share common ancestry. In the case of autosomal DNA tests (like the one offered by MyHeritage), the ancestor who was the source of that shared DNA could be through any of the respective testers’ ancestral lines and could be any number of generations back in the … [Read more...]
Autosomal DNA Test Results: Using Ethnicity Estimates to Generate Genealogical Hypotheses
The material in this autosomal DNA blog article was originally published in the October-December 2021 issue of NGS Magazine. It is updated and republished here with permission. Autosomal DNA test results at the major genetic genealogy testing companies (23andMe, Ancestry, Family Tree DNA, LivingDNA, MyHeritage) include two main elements: ethnicity admixture estimates and genetic cousin match lists. While genetic cousin match lists are the most helpful resource for solving genealogical … [Read more...]
How to Understand Your Closest Autosomal DNA Test Matches
This article is based on a similar article from the January - March 2022 issue of NGS Magazine and is reprinted here with permission. We hope it helps you know how to better understand your autosomal DNA Test matches and what it means for you. Autosomal DNA test results at the major genetic genealogy testing companies (23andMe, Ancestry, Family Tree DNA, LivingDNA, MyHeritage) include two main elements: ethnicity admixture estimates and genetic cousin match lists. Ethnicity estimates are a … [Read more...]