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Beginner's Guide to DNA Testing: Ultimate Testing Strategy

Do you want to know how to get started with DNA testing?  In this article, learn how to choose the best DNA test for you and get the most information from your experience. If you have been thinking about taking a DNA test for a while, and have read about the different companies and even …

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DNA Testing FAQs - Commonly Asked Questions About DNA Testing for Ancestry

Are you brand-new to the idea of DNA testing?  Do you have questions about which test to take and what to expect from your test results?  In this post, I'll answer some of the most common questions about DNA testing for ancestry. Which DNA test should I take While there are a few different types …

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Are You Confused About Your Updated Ancestry DNA Results?

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 …

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What is the Best DNA Test for Native American Ancestry?

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 …

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Elizabeth Warren's Native American DNA Results: Analysis and Discussion

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 …

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How to Understand People Who Match One-or Both of Two Kits Results

If you have been using Gedmatch for a while, there is a good chance that you have seen the "People Who Match One-or-Both of Two Kits" tool.  At first glance, the results of this tool can be confusing, and in this post, I'll explain how to use the tool and how to understand the results. …

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What is the Baltic States Ethnicity on Ancestry DNA ?

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, …

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What is the Eastern Europe and Russia DNA Ethnicity on Ancestry?

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 …

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Ancestry DNA 2018 Update: Before and After Comparisons

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 …

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How to Explore Your Updated Ancestry DNA Results

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, …

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What Happened to My Iberian Peninsula DNA?

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. …

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Ancestry DNA Update 2018: Ethnicity Estimate Changes

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 …

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Are Small DNA Segments Always False Positives (IBS)?

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 …

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How to See Match's Ethnicity on My Heritage

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 …

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How to Access Your Match's Ethnicity on Family Tree DNA

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. …

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What is a Chromosome Browser?

Are you ready to learn about chromosome browsers?  You’ve arrived at this post, and you are ready to learn all about how a chromosome browser can help you really understand your DNA matches, get the most from your DNA results, and do some really accurate family tree research. Before we get started learning all about …

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What is the Senegal DNA Ethnicity on Ancestry?

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 …

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FTDNA Family Finder DNA Matches: What you Need to Know

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 …

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How Much DNA Should You Share With a Great-Grand Uncle or Aunt?

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 …

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Triangulation of DNA Segments: Frequently Asked Questions

In this post, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about triangulation. Triangulation is a really great strategy for getting the most from your DNA results.  Maybe you've already heard of triangulation, but you don't know how to do it, or what it really means.  No matter what you already know …

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British/Irish roots? DNA Testing Opportunity with Living DNA and Find My Past Partnership!

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 …

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How DNA Painter Can Help You Determine Relationship to a Match

Stuck on a DNA match?  Can't figure out how you are related, even though you both have great trees?  A useful strategy called chromosome painting is made easy with a tool called "DNA Painter".  In this post, you'll learn how you can use DNA Painter to find out exactly which line of your family tree …

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