FamilyTree DNA has come out with an extensive redesign of their site

FamilyTree DNA has come out with a new look, increased filtering and enhanced matching for their site. The following article will need to be read several times to catch all the changes, but be patient with yourself. There's a lot going on. Remember to clear your filters, as they're easy to overlook and that can cause great frustration. The HELP section on the site has also been revamped to help you, but the following blog post by Roberta Estes should be get your started. https://dna-explained.com/2021/07/01/familytreedna-relaunch-new-feature-overview/

Moving from GEDMATCH to GEDMATCH/GENESIS

I'm doing a few presentations this year on DNA.  I'll be doing three presentations for the GSCCA (Genealogical Society of Craighead County Arkansas) in Jonesboro Arkansas (Beginning DNA, What to do with the results of your DNA test, and Advanced DNA Tools).  I'm also doing the second hour of Let's Discuss It this Saturday at the Tennessee Genealogical Society and will be doing a quick look at the transformation from GEDMATCH to GEDMATCH/GENESIS.  I'm posting the one page handout so the blog links can be available for attendees.

23 March 2018

GEDMATCH & GEDMATCH/GENESIS

https://www.gedmatch.com

https://genesis.gedmatch.com

Tips for Using GEDMATCH:  http://www.genie1.com.au/blog/78-tips-for-using-gedmatch

GEDMATCH updates to GENESIS:  https://www.familytreemagazine.com/articles/dna/gedmatch-updates-genesis/?ranMID=43068&ranEAID=GGIf2GFEj0Q&ranSiteID=GGIf2GFEj0Q-e_mAxG3PmEursPNI8uk_0A

Time to move to GENESIS:  https://blog.kittycooper.com/2018/12/time-to-move-to-genesis/

GEDMATCH GENESIS tutorial for beginners:  http://whoareyoumadeof.com/blog/2018/12/21/gedmatch-genesis-tutorial-for-beginners/

GENESIS Basics – GEDMATCH reinvented Part 1:  https://blog.kittycooper.com/2019/02/genesis-basics-gedmatch-reinvented-part-1/

The Beta One-to-Many Tool -  GENESIS Basics 2:  https://blog.kittycooper.com/2019/03/the-beta-one-to-many-tool-genesis-basics-ii/

GEDMATCH/GENESIS is a FREE site for uploading autosomal DNA from many different testing companies with the ability to compare SNP data.  This is especially useful for AncestryDNA testers as that site does not provide segment location data with its reported results.  On the tools at GEDMATCH/GENESIS you also have the ability to adjust many reporting thresholds for your matches.

GENESIS is the rebirth of GEDMATCH providing matching for many more testing companies and chips than GEDMATCH handled previously.  GEDMATCH has not yet gone away, but all DNA kits which had been uploaded to GEDMATCH have been ported to GENESIS.  Any NEW uploads will be made to the GENESIS site.  To make things a little confusing, at the moment, any NEW ACCOUNTS will be created on the GEDMATCH site.  Several tools on GENESIS are labeled as Beta and may change as the company tweaks its new site.  The tools at GEDMATCH still function, but no new kits for comparison are added there.

The CURRENT process for using GEDMATCH/GENESIS is to:

1.  Download your raw autosomal DNA data to your computer in ZIP format from AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, 23andME, FTDNA or other DNA testing companies.  Each company provides directions for doing this.  If you don’t see the menu item, use the HELP facility at your testing company. [If you’re a MAC user, set default to NOT unpack ZIP files.]

2.  Create an account at GEDMATCH.

3.  Login to GENESIS

4.  Upload your ZIP file to GENESIS.  You can upload multiple DNA files (for multiple people) in one account.

5.  Wait a couple of days until the matching is complete (there is an icon indicating completion on GENESIS).  While waiting you might read the links above and the HELP files at GEDMATCH/GENESIS.

6.  After your wait, login to GENESIS and begin using the tools, upload a GEDCOM file and assign the point person in your GEDCOM file.

7.  Any password changes you wish to make still need to be made on the GEDMATCH site, currently.

There is another part of GEDMATCH/GENESIS that you will see called TIER ONE.  This is a section of additional tools that are part of a PAID section.  The cost is $10 per month.  You can purchase as many or as few months as you’d like.

Things you can do on GENESIS:

One to Many Matching

Chromosome comparison

User Lookup tool

X-DNA matching

Ethnicity tools

People who match both or 1 of 2 kits

These links will be useful to those who have attended the DNA Part 1 Class on Choosing a DNA Test.  While you're waiting for your ordered test results to be available, read, read, read.

Learn about DNA:
1.  Beginner's Guide of DNA Resources (ISOGG):  https://isogg.org/wiki/Beginners'_guides_to_genetic_genealogy
2.  Learn about genetic genealogy (ISOGG):  https://isogg.org/
3.  Genealogical DNA testing myths (OSOGG):  https://isogg.org/wiki/Genealogical_DNA_testing_myths
4.  Genetics Glossary (ISOGG):  https://isogg.org/wiki/Genetics_Glossary
5.  Autosomal DNA (ISOGG):  https://isogg.org/wiki/Portal:Autosomal_DNA
6.  Mitochondrial DNA (ISOGG):  https://isogg.org/wiki/Portal:Mitochondrial_DNA
7.  Y-chromosome DNA (ISOGG):  https://isogg.org/wiki/Portal:Y-chromosome_DNA

HINT:  After you have ordered your DNA kit and before you receive your results, log in to the company from which you ordered the test, read the FAQ and Help files and tutorials.  Also create or upload your tree to the site and set up your profile for the site.  After your DNA results are available, LINK your DNA to your name on your tree.  Now comes the hard work, analysis AND fun!

DNA Link Pages:
Cyndi's List of DNA Resources:  https://cyndislist.com/dna/
Genie Links - http://www.genie1.com.au/links

YouTube has MANY videos on Getting Started with DNA Research
Example: Do a search on YouTube for  DNA Bettinger or search for DNA genealogy, you'll see several interviews and classes by Blaine Bettinger and useful videos.

Useful charts, tools and methods to help in determining relationships with DNA:
1.  Shared cM Project chart - https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2017/08/26/august-2017-update-to-the-shared-cm-project/
2.  The McGuire Method:  http://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2017/03/19/guest-post-the-mcguire-method-simplified-visual-dna-comparisons/
3.  X-Chromosome inheritance charts - http://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2008/12/21/unlocking-the-genealogical-secrets-of-the-x-chromosome/
4.  Y and Mitochondrial (mtDNA) inheritance - https://isogg.org/wiki/Paths_of_DNA_inheritance
5.  Mirror Trees - http://www.borninneworleans.com/how-to/what-is-a-mirror-tree/
6.  More on Mirror Trees - https://dna-explained.com/2017/07/29/concepts-mirror-trees/
          (update 4 Jul 2018 - Mirror Trees are used less often now)
7.  DNA Mapping - https://isogg.org/wiki/Chromosome_mapping
8.  DNAGEDCOM - http://www.dnagedcom.com/adsa/adsamanual.html.php
9.  More on DNAGEDCOM - http://blog.kittycooper.com/2017/09/solving-unknown-parentage-cases-with-dna/#more-5321
10.  DNA Painter Part 1 - https://dna-explained.com/2018/03/28/dna-painter-chromosome-sudoku-for-genetic-genealogy-addicts/
11.  DNA Painter Part 2 - https://dna-explained.com/2018/04/04/dnapainter-mining-vendor-matches-to-paint-your-chromosomes/
12.  DNA Painter Parts 3 & 4 - TBD
13.  The DNA Green Chart - http://thednageek.com/the-limits-of-predicting-relationships-using-dna/
14.  MAPMY23 - tool for transferring Ancestry data to FamilyTreeDNA  - http://www.mapmy23.com/tools/ancestry_ftdna_fix.php
15.  Genetic Genealogy Using GEDMATCH - http://smithplanet.com/stuff/gedmatch.htm

Blogs on DNA:
1.  DNAeXplained - Genetic Genealogy - Blog by Roberta Estes - https://dna-explained.com/
2.  The Genetic Genealogist - Blog by Blaine Bettinger - https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/
3.  KittyCooper's Blog - Blog by Kitty Cooper - http://blog.kittycooper.com/

Useful DNA Facebook Groups:
1.  GEDmatch.com User Group
2.  Autosomal DNA-Gedmatch-FTDNA-23andME-Ancestry-MyHeritage
3.  GEDmatch Lazarus Tool
4.  DNA Detectives
5.  Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques
6.  Genealogy! Just ask!
7.  Kentucky DNA and Genealogy-  (one I read, but look for YOUR state)
8.  GAA (Genealogy Addicts Anonymous)
9.  FTDNA User Group
10.  DNA for Genealogy
11.  Ancestry DNA Matching
12.  DNA Painter User Group
13.  DNA Newbie
14.  Genome Mate Pro
15.  DNAGedcom User Group

The four major testing companies in our presentation:
1.  Ancestry - https://www.ancestry.com/
2.  FamilyTree DNA (FTDNA) -  https://www.familytreedna.com/
3.  23andMe - https://www.23andme.com/
4.  MyHeritageDNA - https://www.myheritage.com/

Triangulation Tool for FTDNA

I've always uploaded my FTDNA data to GEDMATCH and used the Tier One tools for triangulation.  There's now a third party add on for FTDNA that will do triangulation of your FTDNA data while you're still on the FTDNA site.  Here's the info:

https://dna-explained.com/2017/10/21/introducing-the-triangulator/

Useful Links for Learning to Use the Results of Your DNA Tests

I wanted to post these in a specific Facebook group in answer to a question, but my links always come out "funny" on Facebook, so I'll just post a reference in Facebook to this blog entry.

So many people are new to DNA testing or are doing a new type of test and are confused.  There are four main testing companies:  Ancestry, Family Tree DNA, MyHeritage and 23andMe.  Which companyyou use depends on what you want to learn from DNA testing.  For instance, if you want to trace your father's surname, you need to have him (or a brother or another male in the same line with, supposedly, the same surname) take a Y-DNA test and the only company offering that type of test is Family Tree DNA. All the other companies AND Family Tree DNA offer autosomal testing.  Some of the following links will explain the differences in the testing types.  Some of the following links, blogs, pages, FaceBook Groups and YouTube recommendations should help you LEARN about the WHAT, WHY and HOW of DNA testing.  There is another site that should definitely not be overlooked by anyone doing DNA testing.  That's GEDMATCH.COM.  It is a free site, to which anyone who has had their DNA tested at any of the four companies listed previously should upload their raw DNA data.  The analysis tools are fantastic in helping you understand your matches and the site makes it easy for you to contact the administrator of those matches.  I also want to put in a plug to anyone doing DNA testing.  PLEASE upload a GEDCOM file to accompany your posted DNA.  If I match with someone and it's a mediocre match and they don't have a tree accompanying their data, they get skipped by me.  If you're doing the DNA testing ONLY because you saw the guy in the commercial wearing a kilt instead of whatever he wore before his DNA test, and your DNA matches someone looking for a first cousin or second cousin to determine their birth parents, you may face a pretty high learning curve to be able to do some real family research and create some sort of tree to make your data useful and helpful to yourself or someone else.  There ARE times when the heritage only data can rule out things or help you confirm things, but in general it works a whole lot better with real information you dig out of census records, birth records, death records, property records, wills and other real records than just a heritage percentage or someone else's undocumented tree.

A Few of the Best DNA Blogs:
1.  https://dna-explained.com/ - DNAeXplained - Genetic Genealogy - Blog by Roberta Estes
2.  https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/ - The Genetic Genealogist - Blog by Blaine Bettinger
3.  http://blog.kittycooper.com/ -  KittyCooper's Blog - Blog by Kitty Cooper

A Few of the Best DNA Resource Pages:
1.  https://isogg.org/ - International Society of Genetic Genealogy***  Read this group of pages to learn the basics.  Each of the testing companies also have pages to teach you the basics of DNA testing.
2.  http://www.cyndislist.com/dna/ - Cyndis list of DNA resources
3.  https://socialmediagenealogy.com/genealogy-on-facebook-list/- A list of ALL Groups on Facebook - See the DNA category

Very Useful DNA Facebook Groups [there are MANY more - see the link just before this title]:
1.  GEDmatch.com User Group
2.  Autosomal DNA-Gedmatch-FTDNA-23andME-Ancestry-MyHeritage
3.  GEDmatch Lazarus Tool
4.  DNA Detectives
5.  Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques
6.  Kentucky DNA and Genealogy [this is one to which I subscribe.  Check the list of DNA groups, above, to see if there's one for the states of your interest.]

Useful charts and methods to help in determining relationships from DNA:
1.  https://dna-explained.com/2017/09/21/shared-cm-project-2017-update-combined-chart/
2.  https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2017/08/26/august-2017-update-to-the-shared-cm-project/
3.  http://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2017/03/19/guest-post-the-mcguire-method-simplified-visual-dna-comparisons/ - The McGuire Method
4.  http://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2008/12/21/unlocking-the-genealogical-secrets-of-the-x-chromosome/ - X-Chromosome inheritance charts
5.  https://isogg.org/wiki/Paths_of_DNA_inheritance - Y and Mitochondrial (mtDNA) inheritance
6.  http://www.borninneworleans.com/how-to/what-is-a-mirror-tree/ - Mirror Trees
7.  https://dna-explained.com/2017/07/29/concepts-mirror-trees/ - More on Mirror Trees

YouTube has MANY videos on Getting Started with DNA Research
Example: If you on YouTube for:  DNA Bettinger, you'll see several interviews and classes by Blaine Bettinger.

Where is my head lately? It's in the DNA WORLD!!

I've been doing genealogical research since about 1977 (Roots was the impetus).  However, I've been REALLY working with DNA information for the last couple of years.  It's been made even more interesting, lately, when two of my male Y-DNA testers have proven to be descended from surnames other than the one they've owned since birth.  The switch seems to have come about eight generations ago for one and a whole lot further for the other, so I may have a chance of finding the change in surname for the first but probably not the second.  I'm going on the assumption that my paper research is missing a gggggrandmother that married Surname1 first, had kids with him, Surname1 husband died, and she married a second time to Surname2 (the surname I have on the paper trail) who promptly adopted the Surname1 child.  If the DNA/Name change was due to something other than a second/subsequent marriage, I'll have very little chance of finding it, so I'm going on the first assumption.  During these interesting searches, I've learned a LOT about DNA research. The types of tests you need to take; the tools you can use to analyze the data; how to contact your matches; on and on.  I've shared many links with my local Tennessee Genealogical Society group that met once a month, but since the new group leader begins tomorrow, I guess I'll try to remember to share here.  There are EXCELLENT blogs and Facebook groups and Wikis with very knowledgeable group leaders.  If you find a match, how do you tell if they're a first or second or third cousin?  How do you know if the match is on your paternal or maternal side? If you come from a small county (like my Lyon or Caldwell counties in Kentucky) where your families have been there for generations and those families have married each other MANY times over the generations, you need to become familiar with the term ENDOGAMY if you are doing DNA research and are coming up with matches from those little, much married, counties.  It means that your DNA matches will look like they're more closely related to you than they really are because of the DNA duplication.

A good place to start in learning about DNA is the Wiki by the International Society of Genetic Genealogy:  https://isogg.org/wiki/Genetic_genealogy
You'll learn about the different tests and why you should take each and MUCH more.

If you want to read blogs and Facebook groups on DNA, you couldn't do any better than:
Roberta Estes' blog:  https://dna-explained.com/

Blaine Bettinger's blog:   https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/

There are charts to help you figure out if a DNA match is a 2nd cousin, a 3rd cousin or a 2nd cousin once removed......

Two recent entries from the above listed blogs will help you with those charts:

https://dna-explained.com/2017/09/21/shared-cm-project-2017-update-combined-chart/

https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2017/08/26/august-2017-update-to-the-shared-cm-project/

There are Facebook groups to help adoptees find their biological parents using DNA.  There are Facebook groups on GEDMATCH and the analysis tools contained there.  There are Facebook groups on the DNA testing companies.

Just jump in and read, read and read some more.