What do MyHeritage AutoClusters Tell Me?

MyHeritage's AutoClusters are a great way to start exploring the clusters of your genetic cousins and narrow in on potentially pertinent genetic cousins, but sometimes AutoClusters can only take you so far. Learn to leverage MyHeritage's Theories of Family Relativity, shared matching and DNA match labeling to isolate pertinent genetic cousins for a research question and solve your family history mysteries.

Autosomal DNA tests are utilized in genetic genealogy to solve historic research questions by exploring the genetic traces left by deceased ancestors in the genomes of their living descendants. Any given descendant only inherits a portion of their ancestor’s DNA, and different descendants inherit different portions of that DNA. Based on the relationships between tested descendants of a research subject, it is possible to estimate how much of an ancestor’s DNA is represented in any given database. This information can help in prioritization of testing candidates and can also aid in interpretation of shared DNA between multiple groups of individuals.

While genetic evidence can aid in the resolution of research obstacles, at the end of the day, genetic genealogy is just genealogy and must be considered within the context of documentary evidence. Even so, the aims of documentary research to make sense of anomalies in genetic evidence often center around finding the right person in the right place at the right time to be an ancestor of a research subject. Learn how to creatively use documentary evidence to recognize and detect intersections of DNA and document evidence.

According to the genealogical proof standard, part of pursuing thoroughly exhaustive research is seeking the best available evidence to address a research question. In genetic genealogy research problems, the evidence we use is the test results of living descendants of a research subject, and pursuing the best evidence requires targeted testing of those whose DNA is most likely to help address the research question. In this session, learn to identify, prioritize and invite the best testing candidates to address a research question.

There are multiple reasons you might want to download your raw DNA file from MyHeritage. Paul Woodbury explains why and how to do it.

There are multiple reasons you might want to download your raw DNA file from 23andMe. Paul Woodbury explains why and how to do it.

There are multiple reasons you might want to download your raw DNA file from AncestryDNA. Paul Woodbury explains why and how to do it.

Genetic cousin match lists are the most useful element of genetic genealogy test results for family history research, but ethnicity admixture estimates can also provide important context, and clues to enhance your research. Learn to use ethnicity admixture estimates, genetic cousin match lists, and segment data in tandem to determine which branches of a family tree may be the source of an unexpected DNA estimate.

Learn practical ways to use the centiMorgan Estimator Tool at DNA Painter to solve your DNA questions.