Autosomal DNA Tests

Do you have two relatives who are DNA matches to you, but not to each other?  Are you wondering what this really means, and whether or not it could mean a mistake? 

As you might know, Ancestry periodically updates their customers ethnicity estimates.  Every single Ancestry DNA customer can log in to their account and see a completely updated estimate based on the latest technology and scientific developments.  I often hear from my readers that these newly updated ethnicity estimates are confusing.  So, if you are confused …

Are you interested in learning which DNA company is the best for detecting Native American ancestry?  With all of the DNA news of late, it's no wonder that this has become a popular topic.  In this post, I'll tell you which two companies offer the best test for finding Native American roots - and I'll …

Have you heard the news?  Elizabeth Warren had her DNA examined by an expert, and guess what?  Senator Warren does, in fact, have Native American DNA.  It has been, and likely will continue to be, a contentious subject among both her followers and supporters.  In this post, I'll explain her results and talk about how …

Do you want to learn how to upload your DNA file to Living DNA?  By uploading to Living DNA, you can get more DNA matches.  In this post, I'll show you how to upload your DNA to the site so that way you can get access to all of the information Living DNA has to …

If you already did your DNA with Ancestry, you have probably already explored through the basics of your DNA results.  You've seen your ethnicity estimate and your DNA matches, but do you want to use Ancestry DNA like an expert?  In this post, I'll explain the top tips to learn as much as possible from …

Did you find the Baltic State ethnicity region in your Ancestry DNA results?  Were you surprised, or were you expecting it?  In this post, I'll discuss the location of this ethnicity region, how you might have inherited this particular ethnicity region, and how to get started tracing your Baltic States ancestors. From a personal standpoint, …

Do you need to figure out how you are related to a DNA match? In this post, you'll find a checklist with the best ways to find the information that you need to figure out how you might be related. It can be confusing when you have a genetic relative on your DNA match list …

If you want to really get the most from the DNA test that you took, read through this list of the most common mistakes people make with their DNA results.

Did you get the Eastern Europe and Russia DNA ethnicity in your ethnicity results?  If you did, you are among almost 20 million Americans who can trace their ancestry back to Eastern Europe or Russia.  The Eastern Europe and Russia DNA region is a fascinating region made up of more than twenty countries and spanning …

Have you been examining your Ancestry DNA results since they went through the major 2018 update?  You are not alone!  Many people find themselves confused, frustrated, excited, or even sad and angry about the major changes their results have undergone.  To some people, their ethnicity estimate is confirmation of their identity - especially when it …

Have you checked your Ancestry DNA results lately?  If you have, you might have noticed that they have gone through a very big change.  In this post, I will help you learn how to explore your newly updated Ancestry DNA results. The 2018 Ancestry DNA update offers us a more nuanced insight into our ancestry, …

Did your Iberian Peninsula DNA region completely disappear from your ethnicity estimate after the Ancestry DNA September 2018 update?  If this happened to you, you are not alone.  In this post, I'll explain a little bit about why Iberian Peninsula might have been removed from your list, and what it may have been replaced with. …

The moment that we have all been waiting for has finally arrived!  Ancestry DNA has officially rolled out the biggest update to its ethnicity estimates since the company began offering DNA testing.  In this post, I'll share details about the update as well as discuss how the latest Ancestry DNA update can help us learn …

Do you have Filipino ancestry?  Are you thinking about taking a DNA test like the one offered by Ancestry DNA?  If so, you might be wondering how Filipino would show up on a DNA test. In this post, I'll explain what someone born in the Philippines or someone with Filipino roots could expect to see …

When you are doing genetic genealogy, the common advice is to ignore small segments because they are almost always identical-by-state (IBS), or false positives.  The key phrase is "almost always", and in this post, we'll explore segments smaller than 10 centimorgans (cMs). You will learn: The reason that it's important to understand small segments is …

Do you want to know how much DNA second cousins should share?  What about half-second cousins?  In this post, I'll tell you everything you need to know about shared DNA between second cousins, including whether it is possible for second cousins to share no DNA. If you have second cousins on your DNA match list, …

Are you curious about the ethnicity of your My Heritage DNA match?  In this post, I'll explain how your DNA match's ethnicity can help you figure out how you might be related, how to access this information on My Heritage, and how to sort your matches by ethnicity. I've really enjoyed my My Heritage DNA …

If many people have the same wrong person in your tree, and are DNA-matched, this could be confirmation bias in genetic genealogy. Learn how to avoid this!

The Family Tree DNA Family Finder DNA match list has more to offer than meets the eye.  Many people don't realize that you can access your DNA match's ethnicity, and in this post, I'll explain how to do it and how this might help you figure out how you are related to your DNA match. …

Did you get the Senegal DNA ethnicity on your Ancestry DNA results?  If you are like most people, you are curious about the Senegal DNA ethnicity and want to learn more about how you might have inherited it, and you have come to the right place.  In this post, you'll learn: My daughter's father is …

If you did your DNA test with Family Tree DNA, you might have some questions about your DNA match list.  We all want to figure out how our DNA matches are related to us and there is a lot of information that, when interpreted correctly, can help us do just that.  In this post, you'll …

If you have found that your parent and sibling have a DNA match that doesn't match you, are you wondering how this could be?  In this post, I'll explain how it can be possible that your dad (or mom!) and sibling can have a DNA match that you don't have.  Here's a hint: It doesn't …

Whether you are curious about whether you and your great-great aunt or uncle share the expected amount of DNA, or you are wondering if your mystery DNA match could fit into the great-great uncle category, you have come to the right place.  In this post, we'll discuss how much DNA someone might share with a …

In this post, I'll discuss the most common places where Europe West DNA might be found - both inside and outside of Europe, and how you can use this information to better understand your Europe West DNA results. Of course you know that you can find Europe West DNA in Europe, but did you know …

Can you use your ethnicity estimate to prove paternity?  In this post, I'll explain why your ethnicity estimate doesn't tell you much about who your parents are, and which information from your DNA results is most useful for this purpose. Once you've checked over your ethnicity estimate, you might find yourself comparing your results to …

If you have British or Irish roots, you will be excited to learn that there is a new DNA testing and family research partnership between Living DNA and Find My Past.  Living DNA, a UK-based company, has been involved in DNA testing and research for about fourteen years.  By partnering with Find My Past, they …

Are you wondering how identical twins would match each other on an autosomal DNA test?  Maybe you wonder whether their offspring will match each other at typical first cousin levels?  If you have identical twins in your family, or wonder if you do, this post will help you know what to look for as far …

Whether or not you know for sure that you have Basque ancestry, you might wonder if there is a way to prove it using DNA. In this post, you'll learn how to find out whether you have Basque DNA. Speakers of Europe's oldest surviving language, the Basque people are the subject of much curiosity.  Does …

Do you want to know whether Ancestry DNA can help someone find their birth parents? In this post, find out exactly how it could help, as well as some of the limitations of DNA testing that are relevant to people who were adopted.

Are you frustrated looking at the number of DNA matches on your list that have no tree?  In this post, learn the most common reasons why your genetic relatives have no family tree on their profile. One of the most exciting aspects of DNA results is the list of genetic relatives, also called DNA relatives …

Have a new second DNA match that is a mystery to you? Here, find some strategies to help you learn how your second cousin DNA match is related.

What is a DNA test for lineage?  How does it work?  What can a DNA test tell you, exactly?  In this post, I'll answer all of these questions and more. If you are anything like most people, you probably have lots of friends who have tried doing a DNA test to learn about their heritage.  …

Should you have surname matches with distant cousins? What does it mean if you don't see your surname or maiden name in your list of DNA matches?

Are you trying to decide which DNA test you should take?  There are several big DNA testing companies and while they all offer a similar service, each company does have something special to offer.  In this post, I'll talk about the major advantages of testing with each company - this will help you decide which …

If you have British ancestry, you might be wondering where "British blood" comes from.  Is it Celtic?  Germanic?  Scandinavian?  In this post, we'll discuss some of the latest research on the genetic history of Britain, which will give you a better idea of where your British ancestors might have come from. Who are the British …

Are you wondering if there are any downsides to the Ancestry DNA test?  In this post, I'll talk about some of the cons of an Ancestry DNA test - including whether or not those mysterious ethnicity estimates are as accurate as we would hope they could be. There were definitely some aspects of our testing …

Are you interested in learning more about the Family Tree DNA Family Finder test?  There are so many DNA testing companies out there, and it can be tough to decide which one to start with.  In this post, you'll find a review of the Family Tree DNA Family Finder test, which will help you make …

Are you trying to decide if you would like to do a DNA test with Ancestry? Here, find an honest, complete review of Ancestry DNA's testing service.

In this post, you will learn the pros and cons of DNA testing for ancestry. This information will help you come to a more informed decision about whether or not this type of DNA test is right for you. Are you on the fence about DNA testing?  Are you wondering whether doing an autosomal DNA …

Do you see a new feature called "Ancestry Personal Discoveries Project" on your Ancestry DNA results summary page?  In this post, you'll learn a little bit about the types of questions they ask in this project and how it might benefit you to answer them. I first noticed that they had added this feature to …

Do you have Mali in your ancestry DNA results?  Are you wondering how you inherited this DNA ethnicity and which countries your ancestors might have come from?  You have come to the right place.  In this post, I'll answer these questions, as well give you some strategies for tracing your Mali ancestry. I decided to …