Instructions for Creating Your FREE Grandparent Inheritance Chart:

  1.  Perform three autosomal DNA tests: one for yourself, another for a paternal grandparent, and another for a maternal grandparent. We recommend using the FamilyFinder test at Family Tree DNA.
  2. Create a file with the segments of DNA you share in common with the paternal and maternal grandparents.
    • Click here if the tests were performed at Family Tree DNA
      1. Login to the kit for the grandchild
      2. Under the “Family Finder” section of your home page, click on “Matches”
      3. Check the box next to the tested maternal grandparent in the match list
      4. Check the box next to the tested paternal grandparent in the match list
      5. Click on “Chromosome Browser”
      6. Under “Optional Views” click on “Download to Excel (CSV Format)”
      a. Do not select “Download all matches”
      7. If given the option, choose to download Build 36
      8. Names entered in the entry form must match EXACTLY the names that are in the CSV file. Family Tree DNA adds a space between the first name and the last name if there is no middle name.
    • COMING SOON - Click here if the tests were performed at MyHeritage DNA
    • Click here if the tests were performed at 23andMe
      1. Create a free account at Gedmatch.com
      2. Login to the grandchild’s 23andMe test through the “23andMe fast &easy” option at Gedmatch.com
      3. Select the grandchild’s kit
      4. Grant permission for Gedmatch to access your data
      5. Repeat steps 2-4 for the paternal grandparent and the maternal grandparent
      6. Wait for the Gedmatch kits to tokenize
      7. Under the “Analyze Your Data” section, click on “3D Chromosome Browser”
      8. Enter the kit numbers of the grandchild, the maternal grandparent, and the paternal grandparent in the entry fields
      9. Ensure that there are no segments of DNA shared between the maternal grandparent and the paternal grandparent; if there are, delete those values
      10. Copy and paste the table into an excel spreadsheet
      11. Delete the columns with the kit numbers
      12. Over the column with the grandchild’s name, write the heading “NAME” (case sensitive)
      13. Over the column with the names of the grandparents, write the heading “MATCHNAME” (case sensitive)
      14. Over the column with the chromosome numbers write the heading “CHROMOSOME” (case sensitive)
      15. Over the column with the start points, write the heading “START LOCATION” (case sensitive)
      16. Over the column with the end points, write the heading “END LOCATION” (case sensitive)
      17. Over the column with the centimorgan values, write the heading “CENTIMORGANS” (case sensitive)
      18. Over a blank column write the heading “MATCHING SNPS” (case sensitive)
      19. Search for all entries for “23” in the CHROMOSOME column and change them to “X”
      20. If you have a START LOCATION match on CHROMOSOME 22 that is larger than 15492342, change the number to 15492342. If you have an END LOCATION match on CHROMOSOME 22 that is larger than 45772802, change the number to 45772802. After you create the chart, if your final unassigned percentage is less than 1%, check to make sure you entered these START and END numbers correctly.
      21. Save the file under a name of your choice as a .csv file
    • Click here if the tests were performed at AncestryDNA
      1. Login to the grandchild’s test
      2. Click on the “DNA” tab
      3. On the grandchild’s home page click on the “Settings” button on the right hand side. If the grandchild’s test is one of several kits administered under the same account, make sure that the grandchild’s page is the one selected. If it is not, select their kit from the drop down menu “View Another Test”
      4. On the right hand side of the settings page, click on “Download Raw Data”
      5. Reenter the password for the account
      6. Check the box regarding the terms and conditions
      7. You will receive an email with a download link which will be sent to the email address associated with the account
      8. Download the file
      9. Create a free account at Gedmatch.com
      10. Upload the raw data file to Gedmatch.com using the links for Ancestry and following the instructions there
      11. Repeat steps 1-10 for each of the grandparents
      12. Wait for the Gedmatch kits to tokenize
      13. Under the “Analyze Your Data” section, click on “3D Chromosome Browser”
      14. Enter the kit numbers of the grandchild, the maternal grandparent and the paternal grandparent in the entry fields
      15. Ensure that there are no segments of DNA shared between the maternal grandparent and the paternal grandparent. If there are, delete those values.
      16. Copy and paste the table into an excel spreadsheet
      17. Delete the columns with the kit numbers
      18. Over the column with the grandchild’s name, write the heading “NAME” (case sensitive)
      19. Over the column with the names of the grandparents, write the heading “MATCHNAME” (case sensitive)
      20. Over the column with the chromosome numbers write the hearding “ CHROMOSOME” (case sensitive)
      21. Over the column with the start points, write the heading “START LOCATION” (case sensitive)
      22. Over the column with the end points, write the heading “END LOCATION” (case sensitive)
      23. Over the column with the centimorgan values, write the heading “CENTIMORGANS” (case sensitive)
      24. Over a blank column write the heading “MATCHING SNPS” (case sensitive)
      25. Search for all entries for “23” in the CHROMOSOME column and change them to “X”
      26. If you have a START LOCATION match on CHROMOSOME 22 that is larger than 15492342, change the number to 15492342. If you have an END LOCATION match on CHROMOSOME 22 that is larger than 45772802, change the number to 45772802. After you create the chart, if your final unassigned percentage is less than 1%, check to make sure you entered these START and END numbers correctly.
      27. Save the file under a name of your choice as a .csv file
    • Click here if the tests were performed at multiple companies
      1. Create a free account at Gedmatch.com
      2. Transfer the test results for each individual to Gedmatch.com by following the instructions for the different companies as provided at Gedmatch
      3. Wait for the kits to tokenize
      4. Under the “Analyze Your Data” section, click on “3D Chromosome Browser”
      5. Enter the kit numbers of the grandchild, the maternal grandparent and the paternal grandparent in the entry fields
      6. Ensure that there are no segments of DNA shared between the maternal grandparent and the maternal grandparent. If there are, delete those values.
      7. Copy and paste the table into an excel spreadsheet
      8. Delete the columns with the kit numbers
      9. Over the column with the grandchild’s name, write the heading “NAME” (case sensitive)
      10. Over the column with the names of the grandparents, write the heading “MATCHNAME” (case sensitive)
      11. Over the column with the chromosome numbers write the hearding “ CHROMOSOME” (case sensitive)
      12. Over the column with the start points, write the heading “START LOCATION” (case sensitive)
      13. Over the column with the end points, write the heading “END LOCATION” (case sensitive)
      14. Over the column with the centimorgan values, write the heading “CENTIMORGANS” (case sensitive)
      15. Over a blank column write the heading “MATCHING SNPS” (case sensitive)
      16. Search for all entries for “23” in the CHROMOSOME column and change them to “X”
      17. If you have a START LOCATION match on CHROMOSOME 22 that is larger than 15492342, change the number to 15492342. If you have an END LOCATION match on CHROMOSOME 22 that is larger than 45772802, change the number to 45772802. After you create the chart, if your final unassigned percentage is less than 1%, check to make sure you entered these START and END numbers correctly.
      18. Save the file under a name of your choice as a .csv file
  3.  Upload the file to our tool below. Please note, overlapping segments in the input file may be deleted from the output file when utilizing data for all four grandparents. This does not affect the chart itself—it will correctly display unassigned segments wherever there are overlaps.

Name of Paternal Grandfather:
Name of Paternal Grandmother:
Name of Maternal Grandfather:
Name of Maternal Grandmother:
Learn more about how Grandparent Inheritance Charts are created.
This tool is in beta. Please contact us to report issues.
sample genetic inheritance chart

Sample Genetic Inheritance Chart

Need help? Our professional genealogists would be happy to create your Grandparent Inheritance Chart for you!

Report requires information from 3 DNA tests: focus individual, a paternal grandparent and a maternal grandparent (tests not included).

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Discover your ancestry and genetic inheritanceDiscover which of your grandparents contributed to your specific physical traits – eyes, ears, hair, and more – in a 25 page report.

Report requires information from 3 DNA tests: focus individual, a paternal grandparent and a maternal grandparent (tests not included). Completed report includes Grandparent Inheritance Chart above.

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Hand-picked, tested and trained, our professional genealogist team knows how to find your story. We search the world for answers. Find the un-findable. And we’re experts at everything from tracking down rare international records to analyzing DNA test results. Based near the world’s largest family history library in downtown Salt Lake City, we also work with researchers and archives around the globe.

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