DNA Musings no. 27: Getting Ready to use your DNA in Genealogy

By Betty Hagberg. The Holidays are coming up and all the DNA companies are having sales.  Now is the time to consider purchasing a DNA test as a gift for someone whose results would add to your understanding of your genetic heritage.

Then, what do you need to do to actually use your DNA results as part of your genealogy research?

Test: Ancestry is your best bet.

Upload: Upload your raw DNA results for free to MyHeritage. Additionally, you can consider uploading to FamilyTreeDNA..  You never know where you might find a useful DNA match.

Tree: Attach your family tree to your DNA results. You can do this by uploading a Gedcom file.

Add DNA matches to your tree: Whenever possible, figure out where a DNA match fits into your tree and add them.

Group matches: Group your DNA matches by family line.  Use Ancestry’s dot system to identify your DNA matches – try for eight groups matched to each of your great grandparents. Or you can use the Leeds Method to create a spreadsheet of your DNA matches from multiple sites.

Pick a question: Work on one question at a time. Carefully define a research question and work with your DNA matches for that family line to look for clues. Example: Who is the father of my grandmother Daisy McLaughlin born in Donnelson, Iowa in 1884?

Adding DNA to your research toolbox might just provide the clue you need to solve a genealogy mystery!