What I did when I got my DNA results

[Mart 'n' Al]

It is 18 months since I got my DNA results, including a list of about 8000 potential cousins.  I have worked hard at processing this information but I thought it would be useful to document what I have done, and invite others to add to the list.  I am very keen to contact people as remote as 5th cousins, in the hope that they can tell me something about our shared ancestry.  I know some people are very protective about their DNA results, but I am of the opposite belief.  I have made my results available to as many websites as possible.

The very first thing to do, if your testing company makes it possible, is to download your raw data. If you are able to do this this there will be a menu option readily visible. You can then upload your raw data to various websites. The very first one should be Gedmatch, a free website which allows the comparison of DNA data from multiple and different test companies.

https://www.gedmatch.com/login1.php

Also, people who have done this are obviously more interested in their DNA, than in the slightly apocryphal ethnicity estimates which are often the motivation for people being tested.

You should also familiarise yourself with Blaine Bettinger's DNA chart.

https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcm

Also his What Are The Odds? tool (WATO)

https://dnapainter.com/tools/probability

For a better understanding of DNA, chromosomes, etc, look initially for articles aimed at children initially.  They explain things more simply.

These are the following websites where I have uploaded my data. I hope other Rootschat people will add to this list.

https://dna.land/register

https://www.familytreedna.com/

https://members.geneticaffairs.com/welcome

https://livingdna.com/

https://www.myheritage.com/

Martin

[Craclyn]

A few additional thoughts.

Build as much as possible of your tree, including collateral lines, while waiting for your results. This makes it much easier to figure out how matches fit in.

Work systematically and learn the quirks of how each site works. Read the help pages. Watch videos on youtube. Read genetic genealogy blogs. Join facebook groups where you can learn and ask questions.

Learn about the power (and limitations) of using shared matches to narrow down where a match might fit in.

[Guy Etchells]

I would also suggest people check out Family History Fanatics interesting series of videos about DNA
https://blog.familyhistoryfanatics.com/

Cheers
Guy

[Mart 'n' Al]

I agree with Craclyn and Guy, but I find the lady on the FHF videos a bit shrieky, as I do the Ancestry YouTube lady.

Martin

[Craclyn]

Unfortunately you sometimes have to put up with irritating voices to get the videos with good content 

[Guy Etchells]

I agree with Craclyn and Guy, but I find the lady on the FHF videos a bit shrieky, as I do the Ancestry YouTube lady.

Martin

Martin

Unfortunately you sometimes have to put up with irritating voices to get the videos with good content 

Well said.

[diplodicus]

Hello Martin,

Thanks for your posting. There were a couple of sites that were new (and looked pretty useful) to me.

The latest improvements on Ancestry had eliminated one of the previous frustrating aspects of DNA match results. I have processed all my matches back to 15.0cM and promised myself not to venture below that value until I have finished processing any match >15.

The "matches not yet viewed" means I can quickly locate "newcomers" >15.0cM. I flag them with a gold star and then can filter and work down the list again.

I also use a flag I have entitled "no shared matches" and again, using filter can quickly revisit occasionally to see if they now match a recently arrived new result.

Finally, I always place the date of my latest visit as the first entry in the notes section. This enables me to whizz through passing anything 'recent' on the assumption that stuff doesn't change that often.

Ancestry DNA has proved fascinating for me. I even identified two fourth cousins, living in the same street in a Welsh village, who knew each other but had no idea of their connection to each other!

[PixieAnna]

Hi Martin,

I hope you don't mind me asking but I've received my DNA results from Living Dna and was about to upload it to Gedmatch as you suggest. I had a good read of the Terms and Conditions but got cold feet at the bits about email addresses being visible to potential matches and the possibilities for identity theft. Have you found this to be a problem or did you set-up a separate, dedicated email account for any contacts arising which doesn't use your actual name?

Many thanks,
Pixie

[Mart 'n' Al]

PixieAnna, I haven't had any problem with my address being available there.  I think what you put in your binbag and recycling box is more revealing.  You could always create a free address on Gmail or something similar.

Martin