By
By
Webinar Library
DNA Testing

Unlocking the X-Factor: Key Tips for Using X-DNA in Your Research

Michelle Leonard
Dec 3, 2025
957 views
Advanced
CC
Free
Free through December 10, 2025
Want to watch the full webinar?
Join now to access all 2,604 webinars and unlock all features.
Join now
Syllabus
Join now

Content

Play. Playing.
Welcome
1m 23s
Play. Playing.
Speaker's Introduction
1m 09s
Play. Playing.
Introduction
14m 39s
Play. Playing.
Where to Test
4m 15s
Play. Playing.
X-DNA Matching
8m 52s
Play. Playing.
Family Tree DNA
10m 49s
Play. Playing.
Chromosome Browser
15m 40s
Play. Playing.
GEDMatch
2m 34s
Play. Playing.
The Disproportionate X Line
5m 59s
Play. Playing.
Announcements / prizes
5m 09s
Play. Playing.
Questions / answers
15m 47s

About this webinar

X-chromosome DNA is often one of the hidden gems of the genetic genealogy world especially when used in conjunction with autosomal DNA. This webinar will present an overview of the unique inheritance patterns of X-DNA and set out how and why X-DNA matching differs from atDNA matching. Michelle will guide you through the advantages of utilizing X-chromosome data and demonstrate how to use it to effectively narrow down and identify connections with your DNA matches. She will also cover which companies provide access to X-DNA data, include an array of tips on how to set yourself up to succeed with X-DNA and provide genuine case study examples that show what can be achieved when you harness this powerful type of DNA.

About the speaker

About the speaker

Michelle Leonard
Michelle Leonard is a Scottish professional genealogist, DNA detective, freelance researcher, speaker, author and historian. She runs her own genealogy and DNA consultancy business, Genes & Genealogy, and specialises in DNA Detective work part
Learn more...

Comments (84)

Your email address will not be published.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

1000 characters remaining
Cancel Submit

Sort by Newest
Sort by Close.
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Likes
  1. NT
    Nancy tengler
    5 days ago

    Fantastic presentation. The best explanation of how to use X-DNA that I have heard. Michelle is my favorite presenter. More please.

    Reply
  2. MM
    MaryAnn McLean
    5 days ago

    I have really missed Michelle’s DNA webinars this year. She is outstanding. Hope she does a lot next year.

    Reply
  3. RT
    Rob Thayer
    5 days ago

    Extremely informative. Loved it!

    Reply
  4. AM
    Alaine M Kier
    5 days ago

    Michelle is always so informative, providing clear information. She always makes me think about how I can use this information in my research.

    Reply
  5. MP
    Martin Procházka
    5 days ago

    One of the best DNA webinars I attended

    Reply
  6. MD
    Mary D. Taffet
    5 days ago

    I’m glad I got back home in time to tune into this webinar! I already knew about the uniqueness of the X-DNA inheritance path, but wasn’t entirely sure how it could be used and analyzed, other than to compare to see if two women have the same father. The presentation and handout are very helpful in showing me how best to make full use of the X-DNA information that is available, and how to see if an X-DNA match is worth pursuing.

    Reply
  7. SG
    Sharyn Guthrie
    5 days ago

    Michelle has an excellent style and consistency to her talks which helps with understanding. She uses clear diagrams with great examples to help cement the concept she is explaining. I thoroughly enjoy her lectures.

    Reply
  8. VC
    Vickie Cook
    5 days ago

    This presentation made me understand DNA better.

    Reply
Show all comments

Related Webinars

50:25
DNA TestingMyHeritage
Clustering with MyHeritage Labels
Michelle Leonard
2.4K views
CC
Free
Clustering with MyHeritage Labels
This webinar will explain how you can use MyHeritage labels to organize and cluster your match list. Michelle will outline different clustering strategies that can be employed in different situations and will provide step-by-step guidance to help you on the path to a more organised MyHeritage match list!
DNA TestingMyHeritage
Clustering with MyHeritage Labels
CC
Free
Michelle Leonard
2.4K views
This webinar will explain how you can use MyHeritage labels to organize and cluster your match list. Michelle will outline different clustering strategies that can be employed in different situations and will provide step-by-step guidance to help you on the path to a more organised MyHeritage match list!
Thu, April 11 2024: 22:00 UTC
Register for free
1:23:17
DNA TestingPlaces and Ethnicities
Using DNA To Identify Irish Ancestral Locations
Michelle Leonard
3.5K views
CC
Using DNA To Identify Irish Ancestral Locations
For many of us who have Irish ancestry, the major question is 'but where in Ireland?' Like millions of other descendants of Irish emigrants, Michelle Leonard has Irish ancestors who left Ireland in the 1840s-60s and on nearly all documents she can find for them their birthplaces were given simply as 'Ireland'. In many cases traditional research is not able to narrow down exactly where in Ireland our ancestors lived and trying to trace them across the seas is often a 'needle in a haystack' endeavour. In this personal case study, Michelle will outline how she managed to identify exact locations in Ireland for her Irish lines using the power of DNA testing and will provide strategies and top tips that could help you do the same.
DNA TestingPlaces and Ethnicities
Using DNA To Identify Irish Ancestral Locations
CC
Michelle Leonard
3.5K views
For many of us who have Irish ancestry, the major question is 'but where in Ireland?' Like millions of other descendants of Irish emigrants, Michelle Leonard has Irish ancestors who left Ireland in the 1840s-60s and on nearly all documents she can find for them their birthplaces were given simply as 'Ireland'. In many cases traditional research is not able to narrow down exactly where in Ireland our ancestors lived and trying to trace them across the seas is often a 'needle in a haystack' endeavour. In this personal case study, Michelle will outline how she managed to identify exact locations in Ireland for her Irish lines using the power of DNA testing and will provide strategies and top tips that could help you do the same.
Wed, March 6 2024: 19:00 UTC
Register for free
1:31:08
DNA Testing
Understanding Predicted Relationships at the DNA Testing Sites
Michelle Leonard
1.3K views
CC
Understanding Predicted Relationships at the DNA Testing Sites
When you receive your results from any of the major testing sites you will see a relationship prediction such as 4th-6th cousin or 1st cousin twice removed-2nd cousin twice removed. What exactly do these predictions mean though? This presentation will explain all about these predictions and provide practical advice on how to interpret and make best use of them.
DNA Testing
Understanding Predicted Relationships at the DNA Testing Sites
CC
Michelle Leonard
1.3K views
When you receive your results from any of the major testing sites you will see a relationship prediction such as 4th-6th cousin or 1st cousin twice removed-2nd cousin twice removed. What exactly do these predictions mean though? This presentation will explain all about these predictions and provide practical advice on how to interpret and make best use of them.
Wed, September 6 2023: 18:00 UTC
Register for free
58:32
DNA TestingMyHeritage
Solving Unknown Parentage Mysteries with MyHeritage DNA
Michelle Leonard
2.3K views
CC
Solving Unknown Parentage Mysteries with MyHeritage DNA
DNA testing has transformed the options available to people with unknown parentage or other unknown ancestor mysteries. This presentation will explain how to use DNA results from MyHeritage to help with solving these previously unsolvable enigmas. Michelle will guide you through how to use the tools and features provided by MyHeritage specifically for unknown parentage situations from investigating MyHeritage matches, utilising the detailed shared match lists on offer, building master research trees for your projects, using the 30 helpful color-coding labels to cluster and organise mystery matches right through to identifying links and obtaining solutions. She will provide practical demonstrations of the core techniques you should employ and genuine case studies and success stories will be included to show how DNA results from MyHeritage can be used in tandem with traditional research to solve mysteries and gain answers.
DNA TestingMyHeritage
Solving Unknown Parentage Mysteries with MyHeritage DNA
CC
Michelle Leonard
2.3K views
DNA testing has transformed the options available to people with unknown parentage or other unknown ancestor mysteries. This presentation will explain how to use DNA results from MyHeritage to help with solving these previously unsolvable enigmas. Michelle will guide you through how to use the tools and features provided by MyHeritage specifically for unknown parentage situations from investigating MyHeritage matches, utilising the detailed shared match lists on offer, building master research trees for your projects, using the 30 helpful color-coding labels to cluster and organise mystery matches right through to identifying links and obtaining solutions. She will provide practical demonstrations of the core techniques you should employ and genuine case studies and success stories will be included to show how DNA results from MyHeritage can be used in tandem with traditional research to solve mysteries and gain answers.
Thu, April 13 2023: 21:00 UTC
Register for free
1:01:45
DNA TestingWebtember
The Top Ten DNA Do’s and Don’ts!
Michelle Leonard
2.1K views
CC
The Top Ten DNA Do’s and Don’ts!
In this presentation Michelle will outline her most important DNA tips with a list of her top ten things you should do if you want to make progress with DNA testing for family history as well as her top ten things you should avoid. These tips will help you be successful on your DNA journey and steer clear of common mistakes and pitfalls.
DNA TestingWebtember
The Top Ten DNA Do’s and Don’ts!
CC
Michelle Leonard
2.1K views
In this presentation Michelle will outline her most important DNA tips with a list of her top ten things you should do if you want to make progress with DNA testing for family history as well as her top ten things you should avoid. These tips will help you be successful on your DNA journey and steer clear of common mistakes and pitfalls.
Fri, September 30 2022: 14:15 UTC
Register for free
Advanced
1:29:59
DNA Testing
Using DNA To Solve Interlinked Mysteries
Michelle Leonard
1.9K views
CC
Using DNA To Solve Interlinked Mysteries
Sometimes when trying to solve family mysteries using DNA, we discover that the best matches on the mystery line also have recent mysteries of their own and the connection between the two lies on their respective mystery lines. It's exciting when there are close DNA matches on a mystery line but, equally, it can be frustrating if those matches also have recent blanks or brick walls and it's tempting to treat these kinds of matches as dead ends. In this presentation, Michelle will outline some extraordinary case studies where multiple mysteries linked together and only by investigating them all could answers ultimately be uncovered. She will demonstrate the best techniques for navigating these tricky situations and provide her top hints and tips for working with interlinked mysteries. Often if you can solve one interlinked mystery, you can solve them all!
DNA Testing
Using DNA To Solve Interlinked Mysteries
CC
Michelle Leonard
1.9K views
Sometimes when trying to solve family mysteries using DNA, we discover that the best matches on the mystery line also have recent mysteries of their own and the connection between the two lies on their respective mystery lines. It's exciting when there are close DNA matches on a mystery line but, equally, it can be frustrating if those matches also have recent blanks or brick walls and it's tempting to treat these kinds of matches as dead ends. In this presentation, Michelle will outline some extraordinary case studies where multiple mysteries linked together and only by investigating them all could answers ultimately be uncovered. She will demonstrate the best techniques for navigating these tricky situations and provide her top hints and tips for working with interlinked mysteries. Often if you can solve one interlinked mystery, you can solve them all!
Wed, June 1 2022: 18:00 UTC
Register for free
1:29:58
DNA Testing
The Beginner’s Guide To DNA Testing For Genealogy
Michelle Leonard
1.2K views
CC
The Beginner’s Guide To DNA Testing For Genealogy
This presentation will give an overview of the three main types of DNA tests available for family history purposes. It will explain how Y-DNA, Mitochondrial DNA and Autosomal DNA are inherited and how to use your DNA results to verify the accuracy of your family tree, connect with new cousins, break down brick walls and solve mysteries. Michelle will give practical advice, hints and tips on the best steps to take to succeed and demonstrate what can be achieved using success stories.
DNA Testing
The Beginner’s Guide To DNA Testing For Genealogy
CC
Michelle Leonard
1.2K views
This presentation will give an overview of the three main types of DNA tests available for family history purposes. It will explain how Y-DNA, Mitochondrial DNA and Autosomal DNA are inherited and how to use your DNA results to verify the accuracy of your family tree, connect with new cousins, break down brick walls and solve mysteries. Michelle will give practical advice, hints and tips on the best steps to take to succeed and demonstrate what can be achieved using success stories.
Wed, April 6 2022: 18:00 UTC
Register for free
7:59
DNA TestingTechZone
How to Use the “Connected DNA Matches” Tool to Link DNA Matches to Your Family Tree
Michelle Leonard
1.1K views
CC
How to Use the “Connected DNA Matches” Tool to Link DNA Matches to Your Family Tree
This short TechZone presentation will explain how to use Ancestry's 'Connected DNA Matches' tool to link DNA matches to their entries on a linked tree. The tool can be used to attach DNA match icons to chosen DNA matches, produce an instant link to the pedigree of those matches as built into your own tree and it provides a useful additional organisational option for your Ancestry DNA matches.
DNA TestingTechZone
How to Use the “Connected DNA Matches” Tool to Link DNA Matches to Your Family Tree
CC
Michelle Leonard
1.1K views
This short TechZone presentation will explain how to use Ancestry's 'Connected DNA Matches' tool to link DNA matches to their entries on a linked tree. The tool can be used to attach DNA match icons to chosen DNA matches, produce an instant link to the pedigree of those matches as built into your own tree and it provides a useful additional organisational option for your Ancestry DNA matches.
Fri, November 19 2021: 0:00 UTC
Login to register (for webinar members)
Login to register (for webinar members)
1:11:12
DNA TestingWebtember
Inferred Mapping Explained
Michelle Leonard
3.0K views
CC
Inferred Mapping Explained
What is Inferred chromosome mapping and how can you use it to help narrow down DNA matches and assign DNA to ancestors? Inferred matching relies on DNA segment data so it\'s important to understand how it works before attempting to use it. This webinar will take a deep dive into this special DNA technique and demonstrate how to do it, how to get the most out of it and how to avoid common mistakes.
DNA TestingWebtember
Inferred Mapping Explained
CC
Michelle Leonard
3.0K views
What is Inferred chromosome mapping and how can you use it to help narrow down DNA matches and assign DNA to ancestors? Inferred matching relies on DNA segment data so it\'s important to understand how it works before attempting to use it. This webinar will take a deep dive into this special DNA technique and demonstrate how to do it, how to get the most out of it and how to avoid common mistakes.
Fri, September 24 2021: 0:00 UTC
Register for free