Shared DNA at a glance: the new DNA matrix tool

Jonny Perl
May 30, 2025
1.4K views
CC
Free
Want to watch the full webinar?
Join now to access all 2,420 webinars and unlock all features.

Content

Play. Playing.
Welcome
2m 02s
Play. Playing.
Speaker's Introduction
1m 28s
Play. Playing.
Introduction
7m 27s
Play. Playing.
Matrix
6m 13s
Play. Playing.
Live Demonstration
14m 23s
Play. Playing.
Discussion
6m 12s
Play. Playing.
Planned Features
2m 52s
Play. Playing.
Geoff's Live Demo
7m 25s
Play. Playing.
Announcements / prizes
3m 50s
Play. Playing.
Questions / answers
12m 26s

About this webinar

Jonny will introduce and demonstrate a new tool at dnapainter.com that can help you analyze and showcase shared DNA.

Discount code: matrix25 (valid at Familytreewebinars.com)

Valid through: June 3, 2025

About the speaker

About the speaker

Jonny Perl is a genealogist, DNA enthusiast and web developer based in Swansea, Wales. He is the creator and founder of dnapainter.com, an award-winning web application for chromos
Learn more...

Key points and insights

In a dynamic and insightful webinar, Jonny Perl—creator of the popular DNA Painter website—unveils his latest innovation: the DNA Matrix Tool. Presented live to a global audience via Legacy Family Tree Webinars, this session offers a first look at how the new tool transforms complex shared DNA data into a clear, interactive matrix. Designed to support genealogists at every level, this powerful visual aid streamlines analysis of genetic relationships, making it easier than ever to interpret and share DNA match information. Whether you’re solving longstanding family mysteries or tracking your ancestral lines, this tool brings a fresh perspective to autosomal DNA research.

Key Takeaways

  • Visualize Complex DNA Relationships at a Glance. The DNA Matrix Tool enables users to compare shared DNA amounts among multiple testers in a grid format. With dynamic color-coding that highlights whether shared DNA is above, below, or within expected ranges for a given relationship, the tool helps identify patterns, anomalies, and potential family clusters quickly and intuitively.
  • Flexible Data Import and Customization. The tool accepts data from a variety of sources including GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA, allowing easy population of the matrix with centimorgan values. Users can also manually enter testers, relationships, and shared DNA, and customize display settings to show either centimorgans or percentage shared. Export options for images and CSV files make it easy to share findings with family or collaborators.
  • Beta Tool with Big Potential and Ongoing Development. Though currently in beta, the DNA Matrix Tool is already highly functional and user-friendly. Future updates will include integration with GEDCOM files to automate relationship assignments and allow for deeper genealogical context. Perl emphasizes community feedback as a driving force for feature expansion, inviting suggestions to guide the tool’s evolution.

Unlock the Full Experience
To explore how this tool can benefit your own research, watch the full webinar replay available via Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Jonny Perl walks through live demonstrations, explains technical features, and answers viewer questions—offering invaluable insights into both the Matrix Tool and broader DNA strategies.

After viewing the session, genealogists are encouraged to explore the accompanying five-page syllabus, which expands on key concepts and includes practical examples. It’s an excellent companion to the webinar and a helpful guide as you begin applying this tool to your own DNA data. Dive into the possibilities—because every data point could be the key to your next discovery.

Comments (64)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

1000 characters remaining

Sort by Newest
Sort by Close.
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Likes
  1. YH
    Yvonne Hausheer
    3 days ago

    No complicated technical language, but an easy-to-understand, simple choice of words. I also appreciated the short repetition near the end, when Geoff Rasmussen used his own example to demonstrate once again how you can get started with this new tool. I always enjoy listening to Jonny Pearl! The first time I heard him was at Roots Tech in London in 2019. Thank you both very much!!!

    Reply
  2. RM
    Rod Merrill
    3 days ago

    This presentation was superb. I mentioned in the Q&A that I am working on a large project that I would like to import in the future. What I learned today will require me to revisit some data I have gathered over the past several months, but I can’t tell you how important what Jonny has created is to the steps I take going forward. I was counting on A.I. to be my solution as it develops. Instead, I can count on Jonny to assist me along the way. Thank you so much for this bonus today!

    Reply
  3. WJ
    Wesley Johnston
    3 days ago

    Jonny Perl – Artist at Work

    Reply
  4. KK
    Kathy Korin
    3 days ago

    I love Jonny Perl’s products! They are easy to understand and use, and they are useful to the genealogical community. I’ve been doing these types of matrices manually. This will make it easier. And, of course, Jonny is a terrific presenter!

    Reply
  5. BT
    Barbara Tose
    3 days ago

    Jonny was clear, concise and informative. He is also very practical, providing a relatively easy tool that provides a solution to having to look up information from all the different sites on which I have DNA kits when I need to know something about my matches. I’m looking forward to playing with it.

    Reply
  6. JL
    Jane Lindsey
    3 days ago

    As usual, Jonny gave a clear and interesting description of his new tool. It looks like it has promise to be another essential tool for us genealogists.

    Reply
  7. CV
    Cheryl Villigan
    3 days ago

    This is a wonderful tool. I can already see ways to incorporate it into my reports.

    Reply
  8. KW
    Keith Windsor
    3 days ago

    Great, well organized presentation. Helpful syllabus. Amazing new tool!

    Reply

Related Webinars