Using What Are the Odds? (WATO) plus to solve DNA mysteries

Unlocking complex family mysteries becomes significantly more manageable when pairing genetic data with advanced analysis tools. In this presentation, web developer and genealogist Jonny Perl presents a deep dive into What are the Odds? (WATO) Plus, a cutting-edge web application hosted on DNAPainter.com. The webinar walks researchers through the process of formulating structured research questions, constructing candidate trees, and leveraging statistical models to evaluate how an unknown individual or match fits into a known family line. Whether you are tackling elusive brick walls, identifying biological parents, or placing mystery matches, WATO+ delivers a systematic, data-driven approach to standardizing genetic genealogy research.

Key takeaways from the presentation include:

• Streamlined Structured Frameworks: Unlike original versions that relied on generic inputs, WATO+ introduces structured research questions, percentage-based relative probabilities, and streamlined hypothesis-building to instantly clarify how tester matches fit within candidate trees.
• Age-Based Probability Weighting: Researchers can overlay real-world birth data into their analyses, allowing WATO+ to automatically adjust hypothesis probabilities based on the ages of potential parents and mothers at the time of a child's birth.
• Customizable Advanced Controls: The tool offers granular control over generational age boundaries, built-in options to toggle pedigree collapse flexibility ("flex"), and quick import capabilities for Gedcom files to expedite complex tree creation.

To elevate your genetic genealogy skills and see these powerful techniques demonstrated through real-world case studies, view the full webinar recording today. Exploring the complete presentation will give you the exact steps needed to confidently evaluate candidate trees and solve long-standing family mysteries. Genealogists are also encouraged to open the webinar syllabus to explore exclusive additional resources, step-by-step guides, and practical workflows designed to enhance your research toolkit.