DNA: Third Party Tools Description

Third party tools
·         What is raw DNA? Standard file format used to transfer DNA information to other sites.
·         Gedcom is a standard file format which allows a family tree to be moved between sites.  This is used to move from online trees to desktop software and between online tree websites.  For DNA, this allows you to move your family tree from any family tree software to GedMatch, DNAgedcom, Family Tree DNA, etc.  Not available at Family Search. 

DNA Testing Sites
·         FTDNA:  You can transfer raw DNA and family tree gedcom from Ancestry and 23andme to FTDNA free and for $19 you can access all their tools.  Has chromosome tools. Shows X-matches.  More international matches.
o   On Dashboard “Manage Personal Information”.  You need to add surnames.
o   To upload raw DNA click on DNA Tests in main menu, then click on Autosomal Transfer.
o   My Family Tree at top:  Click to Upload Gedcom.
o   Family Matching Tool uses Parent to 3rd cousin
o   In Chromosome Browser there is a link to Download All Matches (with segments).
·         My Heritage accepts raw DNA from Ancestry, FTDNA, and 23and me free for a limited time.  Can load a gedcom tree.  More international matches, based in Israel.
·         Living DNA:  Offering twice the detail of other DNA ethnicity tests on the market, Living DNA will give you your DNA mix spanning 80 world regions with 21 of them in Britain and Ireland. Testing not only covers your family line ancestry, but maternal and paternal ancestry lines depending on your gender. Living DNA can test your DNA makeup as far back as ten generations, and as their systems evolve, update your ethnicity report to provide ongoing details about your lineage.  Shows ethnicity over time.  On sale for $119 for a limited time.  Living DNA will provide people matches at some time in the future.  No tree matching here.

Primary Sites for DNA Tools
·         GedMatch:  People transfer raw DNA and family tree from any of the testing companies to compare their results with people who tested at other companies.  The reports are amazing.  Free with Tier 1 tools $10 per month.
o   Wiki and Getting Started
o   DNA upload
o   One-to-Many Comparison
o   Kit# starts with A for Ancestry, T for Family Tree DNA, and M for 23and me
o   Use arrows to sort columns; also use control F to find, control P to print, and control S to save an area that can be pasted into a spreadsheet.
o   Generations: subtract 1 to get cousin relationship. Ex: gen=4 is 3rd cousin.  They suggest you contact anyone under 4.5 generations.  Accuracy declines after 3rd cousins.
o   Select boxes; click on “submit” button above
o   Shows X-matches
·         DNAgedcom.com:  creates downloads directly from Ancestry, FTDNA, 23andme, and GedMatch and has programs for analyzing.  $5 per month.
o   DNAgedcom.com does not receive raw DNA, files are Matches, Ancestors, and ICW (“in common with”, in my words “share DNA with”).  They are spreadsheets you can read, sort, and search to find your own answers.  Over time need to run again to get new matches.
o   DNAgedcom replaces AncestryDNA Helper by Jeff Snavely which is a Chrome add-on to create download files.  Don’t do use AncestryDNA Helper!  Warnings are posted on the site.  Some people still love Ancestry DNA Helper and I can show it to you.

Secondary Sites to Transfer data to
·         Promethease:  A literature retrieval system that reviews your raw autosomal DNA results that are believed to be associated with health or physical traits and then builds a personal DNA report for you.  Accepts Ancestry, FTDNA and 23andme.  Cost $5.  Some think it can be a replacement for 23andme health reports if you don’t want to test at 23andme.
·         Wikitree.com:  This is one big tree.  After you have your ancestors there, you just enter your GedMatch kit # and it adds your kit # to each of your ancestor’s profiles.  This big tree has an owner for each person in the tree so random people can’t change your info.  A good practice is to add your people individually and connect up with the ancestors who are already there.  Seriously devoted to collaboration.  All free.
·         Genome Mate Pro is desktop software.  You can move matches, chromosome segments, etc. from Ancestry, FTDNA, GedMatch and maybe more to Genome Mate Pro to keep track of everything.  This is complicated.  Free, donations appreciated.
·         DNA.land (that’s all, no .com or .org):  A free, non-profit site for genetic research.  Geneticists from Columbia University.  You upload your raw data and you get chromosome browsers and relative finding.  I haven’t used it personally.
·         Geni:  You can link your FTDNA account to Geni and your DNA automatically matches to others in Geni’s big tree.  There are plans to do this with Ancestry and 23and me.  In addition to geni.com family tree site, they have help.geni.com and wiki.geni.com.  I find this site intriguing and frustrating.  Description below is intriguing.  Frustrating because there is a basic and a pro version.  It is not clear if all the DNA features are in the Pro version.  You can’t ask a question unless you have a 14-day free trial of the Pro version.  Subscription for the Pro version is $119 per year.  We need to keep an eye on this.
·         From Geni FAQ as of 2016:
o   What are the DNA Integration features released July 2016?
o    You can now import your DNA test results from Family Tree DNA to Geni, as well as upload your raw autosomal data for further processing. Geni will use your Y-DNA, Mitochondrial DNA and Autosomal DNA test results to confirm existing relationships in your family tree as well as discover new relatives. Specifically, Geni will:
o    • Propagate Y-DNA results along the paternal lines to infer which other relatives should have matching DNA. If matching DNA is found, the line between the test-takers can be considered confirmed.
o    • Propagate Mitochondrial DNA results along the maternal lines to infer which other relatives should have matching DNA. If matching DNA is found, the line between the test-takers can be considered confirmed.
o    • Use Autosomal DNA matching to confirm close relationships
o    • Guide you on what DNA tests to take to confirm relationships in your family tree
o    • Show DNA conflicts that indicate where the tree may have mistakes, and provide guidance on other living people who can be tested to resolve the conflict
o    • List other Geni users whose DNA matches your own, which enables you to compare trees to determine how you are related
o    • Organize profiles into haplogroup projects

For More Information

DNAadoption.com:  An educational site.  See their FAQ’s for questions about transferring data and third-party tools.  Free.

Spreadsheets:  Here’s a video on beginning Excel. You do not need to be an expert on spreadsheets for this.  That is, nothing about formulas and fancy formatting.  You just need the basics. Even if you don't use Excel, you should watch this. Most of the moves are the same. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kNEv3s8TuA  Free.


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