Genetic Genealogy

Want to know how to use DNA matches to map your chromosomes? It's easier than you think! I'll teach you how to paint a new match on DNA Painter.

This post is a short tutorial that will explain the purpose of profiles on DNA Painter, how to create a new one, and why you should create a new profile for each family member whose DNA you manage.  Painting chromosomes, or chromosome mapping is fun and easy, once you get the hang of it, but …

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 …

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 …

There are so many really great genetic genealogy blogs out there, and we all have limited time to scroll through to look for stuff that it really going to help us.  In this post, I'll tell you about my favorite genetic genealogy blogs - just a few sentences about what makes them great and different …

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 …

Are you confused by a DNA match?  In this post, I'll go over some tips and strategies - ranging from the basic to the advanced - to help you figure out your connection. We all have that one match - trust me.  Each time we log in to our results, we can't help but see …

Want to know how half-siblings show up on Ancestry DNA? I'll show you how to find out if your match is a half-sibling and so much more! Read more now!

If you have the Native American DNA ethnicity in your results, you probably want to learn more about it.  In this post, you will learn why you have Native American DNA even if you weren't expecting it, as well as: Where is the Native American DNA ethnicity located? Many people read "Native American" and immediately …

You got your DNA results back, and you've taken a look through your DNA matches.  Maybe you recognize some of the names from the top matches, and everything seems to make sense. There is more to see, however.  In this post, I'll teach you how to analyze your DNA results using your DNA match list. …

If you got your DNA results back a while ago, you have probably already checked over your ethnicity estimate.  You may have even looked through your first page or so of DNA matches, and everything seems in order. Everyone says that there is so much to learn from your DNA, but how do you really …

Most people aren't really expecting surprises when they do a DNA test, but almost everyone gets at least a small surprise - if they look hard enough at their results.  Some people find out that they have different biological parents than they thought they did, others discover new close relatives, and others find out that …

When you are examining a DNA match, one of the best indicators of how far back your common ancestor might be is the size of your shared DNA segments.  Generally, the common wisdom is that the longer the segment, the closer the relationship between you and your DNA match.  In other words, the longer the …

If you are exploring your DNA results and find a new sibling, or are wondering if you and your known siblings share the expected amount of DNA, you have come to the right place. In this post, I'll tell you what you need to know about the number of shared DNA segments between siblings. How …

Want an example of how DNA segments get smaller over generations? Here, see how a segment breaks up over time, and how this affects your DNA match list.

Have you heard of DNA Painter, but you don't know what it is? In this post, learn the basics about this fun and useful site that helps us better understand our DNA matches.

The best way to figure out how you are related to a DNA match is to build a basic family tree for them back to your common ancestor. In this post, learn why this works and how to do it. I know that this sounds like a crazy idea.  You have enough work on your …

What is a double-fourth cousin, and how are they related? Do double-fourth cousins share more DNA with each other than they would otherwise? In this post, I'll explain the meaning of a double-fourth cousin, show you an example of my own double-fourth cousin, and talk about how this "double" relationship affects the amount of DNA …

(Note: to read about which grandparent you might be more related to, click here: Which Grandparent Are You Most Related To?) Congratulations on purchasing your DNA test!  While you are waiting for your test to arrive or for your results to come back, there are some important steps that you can take to make sure …

Are you wondering what to expect from your DNA ethnicity estimate?  Perhaps you are trying to determine which company offers the most detailed, or most accurate ethnicity estimate.  In this post, I will show you my complete ethnicity results from Ancestry DNA, 23 and Me, Family Tree DNA, and My Heritage DNA.  My sincere hope …

If you discover a secret through DNA testing, should you keep the secret, or should you expose it? What you decide to do is up to you, but you will get some ideas and guidance in this post. Most people get interested in DNA testing to find out where their family came from.  Basically, they …

Want a way to use your unique DNA to find biological family connections? You can use DNA testing to find relatives, and I'll tell you exactly how to do it.

Why don't I have an ethnicity that my parent has? How is this possible? Does it mean DNA results aren't real? Find answers to these questions and more!

Should your ethnicity estimate match your family tree? In this post, learn whether your DNA results will match your known origins.

Are you wondering what you can see on Ancestry DNA without paying a monthly subscription?

Here, you will learn the most common objections to DNA testing and responses that you can use to help your family member or friend get a better understanding of the amazing world of genealogical DNA testing. This is the best way to help them understand what they might be able to learn from taking a …

Do we share DNA with all of our relatives? Find out when a relative should share DNA, and when you might not share DNA with people in your family tree.

What does it mean if you don't match the parents of your DNA match? Here, I'll explain reasons that you might match the parents of your DNA matches.

Are you looking for an easy way to figure out if your DNA matches are on your paternal or maternal side?  If one of your parents has done a DNA test, and you have access to the results, you can using the Phasing tool on Gedmatch to separate them by maternal and paternal lines.  This …