Learn why siblings don't have the same DNA, how much DNA siblings share, and what you can learn from your siblings results. Easy-to-understand explanations!

If you are Mexican, or have Mexican roots, you might be wondering what Mexican Ancestry DNA results look like?  Or if you already got your results back, maybe you want to compare yours to some other people from Mexico to get an idea whether yours fit in.  What you will learn in this post is …

Have you ever heard someone say that doing their DNA test changed them?  I used to think that that was a bit silly, since I felt like much the same person that I was when I first got started with genetic genealogy several years ago.  But then I realized that I check my DNA matches …

In this post, you will learn about DNA matches and genealogy, and specifically how a beginner can leverage the knowledge gained from a DNA match list to build a family tree. Everyone says that doing a DNA test is the best thing that you can do if you are interested in genealogy and family tree …

Does your child have DNA matches that you don't?  There are four main reasons why this happens, and in this post, you'll learn about them. The first thing that you should know is that it is normal for your children to have DNA some matches that are not on your list, and it doesn't mean …

Did you get Scandinavia DNA ethnicity in your results? Learn how you inherited Scandinavian DNA, which countries your ancestors came from, and more!

In this post, you will learn what is a 3/4 sibling, how much DNA 3/4 siblings typically share, and how to know if you have a three quarter sibling.

MRCA is of the most common notations used in genealogy. In this post, learn what these letters stand for in the definition of MRCA. If you've been doing this whole family tree research thing for a while, you might have seen the letters "MRCA".  It's especially common to see this in the genetic genealogy sphere …

Are you looking at your DNA match list and trying to figure out if one of your matches could be a first cousin to you?  Did your first cousin do a DNA test, and now you want to know if you share the right amount of DNA based on your relationship?  In this post you …

Do you want to know how to download your DNA file from Ancestry? It's easy to do, and in this post, you'll find the steps for how to do it.

If you got your Ancestry DNA results back, and they show you something that you weren't expecting to see, you might have some lots of questions about the test. For example, you might want to know : Is it possible that my Ancestry DNA results are wrong? How accurate is the Ancestry DNA test? How …

If you have downloaded the We're Related app from Ancestry to your phone, you've probably gotten some notifications about how you are possibly related to some famous individuals.  Is the We're Related App accurate?  How do they come up with these suggestions? In this post, you will learn: How to tell if the famous person …

For many of us, the holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our lives, families, histories, and traditions.  If you didn't grow up Jewish, but you know that you have Jewish ancestry, or you think you might, you might be interested in exploring your family history and learning more about your Jewish roots. …

Here, you will learn what a mirror tree is, the basics of how to make a mirror tree on Ancestry, and what it can do for you in your search for family.

If you share your tree with someone, will they be able to see everything that you have added to your tree, even if they don't have a subscription? Find out!

Want to know how to find relatives in another country? Many people have not-so-distant blood relatives living in other countries. Learn how to find them!

Have a Close Family match on Ancestry DNA? How are they related to you? Could it be a mistake? Read here for answers to these questions and more!

Are you looking for the perfect gift for a family tree researcher?  If you have a genealogist friend or family member who is very dedicated to their hobby, I have a few ideas to help you give them a gift that will keep on giving for years to come.  Here's a hint:  It's a DNA …

One of my favorite aspects of Family Tree DNA is how easy it is to sort and search through DNA matches.  When dealing with a list of hundreds upon hundreds of names, it definitely helps to be able to look for just one particular aspect of a user's profile and test kit. In this post, …

If you just got your Ancestry DNA results back, you might be wondering what you should do now.  In this post, I'll talk about some of the easiest and most common things you can do next.  Everyone does a DNA test for different reasons, so whether you are looking for new family members, or just …

Do you want to learn more about the Great Britain DNA Ethnicity? Was yours a surprise? How did you inherit it? What is British DNA? Learn more here!

Many people are puzzled when they get their Ancestry DNA, 23 and Me, or Family Tree DNA results back and see that they have a percentage of Iberian.  A question that sometimes comes to mind, especially because of some misinformation that has been spreading online, is whether or not having Iberian ethnicity also means that …

Genealogy and Thanksgiving are interconnected. Explore the tricky relationship between our country and family histories, and what we serve for Thanksgiving.

If you have a DNA match who should be a third cousin to you, but you want to make sure, you might be wondering how much DNA you should share with a third cousin.  You have come to the right place, and in fact, learning about DNA shared between third cousins is key to using …

Just when you think you understand all that you need to know about the way DNA matches work, you run into a match that shares more DNA with you than they do with your parent.  What does it mean if I share more DNA with a match than my mom?  Or my dad? There are …

Scientists say that everyone who lives outside of Africa in modern times has at least a tiny percentage of Neanderthal DNA.  Have you ever wondered how much you have, if any?  This article will explain whether Ancestry DNA will show your Neanderthal roots. The Neanderthals lived in Europe and Asia, and when humans arrived out …

There are many people who do the Ancestry DNA test that never realize that their test results come with a long list of DNA matches.  This article will help you understand your Ancestry DNA matches. Some who see the match list feel like it is overwhelming, and they don't know where to get started on …

If you have already done a genealogical DNA test, you might be wondering if there is any point in having your mom take one, too.   If you want to know what you can learn from testing your mother, you have come to the right place.  It turns out, you can unlock a wealth of information …

Did you get Africa Southeastern Bantu DNA ethnicity in your results? Learn more about how you inherited DNA from this region.

Ethnicity estimates are a fascinating aspect of DNA testing, and sometimes people are surprised by what they see, and it becomes very important to explain the findings.  If you have Iberian and Native American in your ethnicity results, you might be wondering if the simple explanation is that you have Hispanic or Latino ancestry.  In …

If you have Hispanic or Latino ancestry, you might be wondering which DNA is best for you.  In this post, I will explain which test is best for Hispanic or Latino Ancestry and why. Some people are understandably skeptical about whether or not there is a DNA test out there that can provide accurate results …

Did you just get your Family Finder test results back?  If so, this article will help you understand Family Tree DNA results.  My goal is to help you get the most from the experience.  Your DNA results contain a wealth of information about your family's past and present. In this post, you will learn: About …

Do you want to know how they get your ethnicity estimate, how far back they can test, and which company's test you can really trust? Find out here!

We were you expecting to see Native American DNA in your ethnicity estimate from your DNA test?  You are not alone in asking the question of why Native American ancestry doesn't show up in your ethnicity results.  There are a few common reasons why this happens, and we'll talk about them in this article. Reasons …

In this article, you will learn the basics about what makes the Gedmatch admixture results different than the ones provided by your testing company in your ethnicity estimate, and which admixture calculator is the best Gedmatch test for Native American. One of the most popular reasons for people to upload their DNA to Gedmatch is …

If you have been thinking about doing a DNA test, like the one offered by Ancestry DNA or 23 and Me, for example, you might be worried about the safety of your DNA.  There are many issues to consider when it comes to DNA and privacy, and I am going to do my best to …

Are you interested in taking a DNA test for finding living relatives? There are many excellent choices for DNA testing, and this post will explain why Ancestry DNA is the best choice for finding living family members. When trying to find living family with a DNA test, you should choose a company that: is reliable …

Do you want to know if a DNA match is paternal or maternal? Using the information and techniques described in this post, you'll be able to figure out which side of your family your match is on. It's very common to have trouble determining whether a match is paternal or maternal, especially if you haven't …

A few weeks ago, one of my close acquaintances got his DNA results back.  He showed them to his mother, who is the daughter of a Mexican father and and an American mother.  Her initial response was that they were wrong:  "Those can't be right," she said.  "Where is the Mexican in your DNA results?"  …

How accurate are Ancestry DNA matches? Find out when they are 100% accurate and when you need to take a second look. Read more...

Can siblings have different Ancestry DNA results?  If you and your sibling both did the Ancestry DNA test for fun, you might be confused over your results.  If you are full siblings, why are your Ancestry DNA results different?  Before you jump to any conclusions about mom or dad, you should definitely read this post. …

If your DNA match hasn't responded, and you haven't given up hope that they someday might write you back, there are a few things that you can consider to improve the probability that they will write you back.  In this post, I've listed six secret tips that you can try to improve your chances that …