DNA Detective

Name: DNA Detective
Rating: 4.5 (14 reviews)

How to use DNA data to break through genealogical brick walls

Created byCarol Donohue

Last updated 4/2024

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Understand DNA Data
Understand MRCA - Most Recent Common Ancestor
Use GEDmatch tools to find DNA data profile for your top matches
Understand X-DNA Inheritance wheel

Course content

1 section • 9 lectures • 30m total length

Introduction0:27
DNA Detective - The Basics3:12
Master dna detective basics to locate distant ancestors using GEDmatch and other dna kits. Explore fan wheel patterns and most recent common ancestor markers to identify matches.
GEDmatch Tools2:41
Explore GEDmatch tools to build a DNA profile: use one-to-many comparisons, autosomal DNA settings, and Xdna to trace maternal lineage and identify matches.
DNA Data5:13
Explore dna data, centimorgans, and MRCA numbers to infer relationships from parentage to distant cousins using GEDmatch free tools, 1-to-1 and 1-to-many analyses, xdna, and triangulation.
Your Match
My Match4:03
Explore step-by-step how to analyze a dna match with gedmatch’s one-to-many and one-to-one tools, comparing autosomal and X dna segments to locate the most recent common ancestor.
Finding More Ancestors3:06
Explore finding more ancestors by analyzing DNA matches, focusing on shared centimorgans and recent common ancestors, then contact matches and use surname or country groups to expand leads.
People who match both kits3:54
Learn to use GEDmatch’s people who match 1 or 2 kits to identify shared segments, the most recent common ancestor, and relationships such as first cousins three times removed.
X-DNA Inheritance4:57
Explore x-dna inheritance with male and female wheels; use elimination on your match profile to locate the most recent common ancestor with genetic genealogy and birth and marriage records.
Your Journey3:22
Organize notes and kit data, use GEDmatch multi-kit analysis to identify the most recent common ancestor, and explore five to three centiMorgans for matches.

Requirements

Interest in family history and genealogy
Completed a DNA kit

Description

Are you struggling to break down genealogical brick walls and find more ancestors to add to your family tree? GEDmatch has valuable tools to help you uncover new leads and overcome research obstacles. In this course I share my tips and techniques for using DNA data and GEDmatch effectively. With these strategies, you'll be well on your way to breaking through brick walls and discovering new ancestors to add to your family tree.

By applying rules of data science, how DNA propogates and how to predict the most recent common ancestor, you will be equipped with the tools and the sequence to analyze shared segments of DNA. You may discover distant cousins, common ancestors, and branches of your family tree you hadn't explored before. Armed with these strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to break through your genealogical brick walls. Open doors to hidden connections, enriching your family tree with previously undiscovered ancestors. So, embark on your DNA journey, explore the tools, and unravel the mysteries of your heritage!

The comparison tools we will use include One-to-Many, One-to-One Autosomal, One-to-One X-DNA, People Who Match Both Kits and Ancestor Projects. You wil complete a project where you will complete an analysis where you will find where you match to the person with the most shared DNA on your One-to-Many list.

Who this course is for:

Anyone interested in learning about their family's history. Hobby genealogists interested in using DNA data to locate more ancestors to expand their family tree.