Using MyHeritage in Your Genealogical DNA Testing Plan

Key points and insights

Kicking off the year in the MyHeritage Webinar Series, this session focuses on building a thoughtful genealogical DNA testing plan—one that goes beyond simply taking a test and scrolling matches. Presenter Paula Williams walks through how strategic tester selection, smart match-sorting, and the right MyHeritage tools can turn scattered DNA clues into a more organized research path. The webinar is especially relevant for genealogists tackling parentage questions, brick walls, and complex communities where intermarriage or pedigree collapse can blur relationships.

• Testing strategy matters as much as testing itself. Clear guidance is given on who to test (and when), emphasizing the value of the oldest living generation, key relatives on both sides, and multiple descendants from different branches to improve match identification and reduce false assumptions caused by random inheritance.

• Real-world case studies show how “target testing” breaks stalemates. A compelling paternity mystery illustrates how Y-DNA and autosomal DNA can work together—first to confirm a half-sibling story, then to narrow a biological father candidate set, and finally to use shared matches to separate “helpful” DNA from distracting lines.

• MyHeritage tools can accelerate analysis—when used with a plan. The session highlights practical ways to use shared matches, custom labels, AutoClusters, triangulation indicators in the chromosome browser, and tree-comparison features (like Cousin Finder) to identify groups of related matches and locate promising relatives to recruit for future testing.

The webinar also encourages “fishing in multiple ponds” by testing (or strategically using multiple databases) to reach matches who tested elsewhere, while noting recent industry uncertainty as a reminder to diversify where DNA data lives. Importantly, it closes with an ethical framework: informed consent, surprise preparedness, and respecting limits on data sharing—presented as essential best practices, not optional extras.

To get the most from the examples, tool walkthroughs, and decision-making frameworks, viewing the full webinar is well worth it—especially for anyone ready to move from match overload to a focused, evidence-driven DNA plan. The syllabus adds extra value: it points to supporting articles, standards, consent-form templates, and deeper-learning resources that help extend the techniques well beyond the hour.