Relative Roadmap: Your Journey with Autosomal DNA · 2019. 6. 25. · Lesson 1: Hooray for...

Lesson 1.

Hooray for Autosomal DNA!

Methodology by Diane Harman-Hoog

Lesson written by Mesa Foard

Layout and Design by Mesa Foard

© 2014 DNAGEDCOM.com

Objective: You’re going to meet the tools in this lesson that will provide you with a roadmap to

your DNA relatives. The goal is to understand how autosomal DNA testing, genealogy and IT can

work together to discover your biological relatives – even if you don’t have a family tree!

Words and phrases in bold indicate important terminology. Please consult the glossary

included with the course material.

Homework assignment is at the end of the lesson.

Relative Roadmap: Your Journey with Autosomal DNA

http://www.dnaadoption.com

Lesson 1: Hooray for Autosomal DNA! 2 © 2014 DNAGEDCOM.com


Contents Section 1. Meet the DNA: Introduction to Basic Genetics in under 20 Minutes – Promised! .................................. 4

We’re all related .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

How do we inherit DNA? ................................................................................................................................................................................. 5

How do we biologically define “family?”................................................................................................................................................... 5

Identical By Descent and Identical by State ............................................................................................................................................ 6

How can autosomal DNA tests help me find my ancestors? ............................................................................................................. 6

Autosomal DNA Testing for Genetic Genealogy ..................................................................................................................................... 8

Section 2. Meet your Matches ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

Understanding Kinship .................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Cousins .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10

Calculating Your Relationship with a Cousin ........................................................................................................................................ 10

Estimating Your Common Ancestor with a Match When You Don’t Know Your MRCA (For Close Matches) ........... 11

Anomalies in Some Family Trees ............................................................................................................................................................... 12

Mesa’s Favorite Kinship Chart .................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Section 3. Meet the Ancestors ...................................................................................................................................................... 14

Triangulation Requirements........................................................................................................................................................................ 14

Geek Speak for the Amount of DNA Shared with a Match ............................................................................................................... 15

The Top Four Shared DNA Terms .............................................................................................................................................................. 15

Section 4. Meet the Technology: Crunching the Numbers ................................................................................................. 16

Your Techie Toolbox ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Section 5: Meet the Data: What You’re Crunching ............................................................................................................... 17

Genetic Genealogy Data Types .................................................................................................................................................................... 18

Section 6: On Your Mark, Get Set, Go Gather Your Data! .................................................................................................... 19

Generate your FTDNA Data Files on DNAGEDCOM ............................................................................................................................ 19

Extract and Download FTDNA Data Files from DNAGEDCOM.com ........................................................................................ 20

DNAGEDCOM Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................................................ 21

Download your Raw Test Data from your Testing Company/Companies for GEDmatch GEDmatch .......................... 21

Instructions for Downloading your Raw Test Data from your Testing Company/Companies ................................... 22

FTDNA .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 22

23andme .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22

AncestryDNA ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 22

Upload your Zipped Raw Data File(s) to GEDMatch .......................................................................................................................... 23




Section 7: Meet your Internal Resources: Boosting Your Odds of Success on This Unique Journey .................. 24

Section 8. Course Q & A .................................................................................................................................................................. 25

Lesson 1 Homework ....................................................................................................................................................................... 28

Pop Quiz Answers ............................................................................................................................................................................ 28




Section 1. Meet the DNA: Introduction to Basic Genetics in under 20 Minutes – Promised! Here’s a simplified overview of all the science you need to know to work with your DNA results.

We’re all related

You are related to every human being on earth, making you a bona fide member of the species Homo sapiens. In fact,

you share 99.5%1 of your genetic makeup with your mom, your dad, the neighbor down the street, a baker in France --

even the Pope!

That’s because of DNA. DNA contains the instructions that form and maintain living organisms. It tells apples to become

apples, dogs to become dogs and humans to become – you guessed it – humans.

But what makes an apple green or red? A dog black or spotted? Your eyes brown or blue? Genes do. Genes are

segments of DNA that determine traits. Each human has the same number of them – over 20,000 – which collectively

form your genome.

All of this DNA is organized into cell delivery packages called chromosomes which are passed from parents to their

offspring. A fruit fly has four chromosomes. A dog has 39. And you have 46.

You inherited 23 chromosomes from your mother and 23 from your dad. The last pair, the allosomes, are the sex

chromosomes that determined your gender.

But what do those other 22 pairs of chromosomes do?

These are the autosomes, and they determine everything else about a human other than gender.

You may be thinking that if we’re all related, what makes us unique? What makes us biologically different from each

other? Good question. It’s the combination of autosomal DNA (atDNA) in that little .5% which we inherited directly

from our ancestors that makes us unique among the billions of other people on earth. 2

1 23andme.com

2 Unless you’re an identical twin.

DNA > Genes > Chromosomes > Cells = The Human Genome




How do we inherit DNA?

AtDNA is not exactly passed down according to a fast and firm set of rules, and not everyone in your lineage will share

the same segments.

Only the 23rd pair of chromosomes, the sex chromosomes, adheres to an exact set of rules. If you’re female, you got an X

from each of your parents (XX), and if you’re male, then you got an X from your mother and a Y from your father (XY).

The Y-chromosome is only passed down from a father to a son. The X-chromosome is passed down from a mother to

both a son and a daughter; a father never passes an X-chromosome to a son.

Pretty clear-cut.

AtDNA , though, is inherited randomly. You won’t have all of the atDNA that your grandparents had, or your parents or

your siblings have.

But you will inherit segments that your mother passed on to you, some that your father passed to you, some from your

grandparents and maybe even some from your paternal third great-grandmother.

In fact, some of the atDNA you receive can completely change in a process known as recombination, when a new

segment is created that neither of your parents have.

This randomness ensures we receive DNA from many different ancestors to create human diversity.

How do we biologically define “family?”

You and your biological family members descend from the same ancestor and share more than 99.5% of your DNA in

common.

Out of that additional shared DNA over 99.5%, you have about 50% in common with your mother and 50% in common

with your father (see Shared DNA Cheat Sheet). Your parents received about half of their DNA from each of their

parents.

The amount of DNA inherited from our ancestors decreases by roughly half in each subsequent generation. The further

removed you are from an ancestor, the less likely you are to have inherited any specific segments of DNA from him or

her at all.

That’s the way autosomal DNA works. It comes from both sides of your lineage and it’s completely random.

The word “genome” is comprised of the words “gene” and “chromosome” to describe the entire genetic code of a human.




To avoid working with IBS matches, you’ll learn how

to eliminate the ones below a certain threshold.

If you’re an adoptee, it is recommended that you

take atDNA tests at all three of the major consumer

testing companies. Y-DNA testing is also

recommended for males trying to determine family

relationships.

The DNA you receive is your special inheritance – and no one else on the planet has this same combination! 3

Identical By Descent and Identical by State

Sometimes, small shared segments of DNA you have in common with someone may not mean you’re related at all!

Why is this? Aren’t we related to everyone the testing companies say we are?

Not necessarily.

IBD, or Identical by Descent, means you inherited DNA directly from one of your ancestors. The opposite is true for IBS.

IBS, or Identical by state, is a term used in genetic genealogy to describe DNA segments which do not signify the sharing

of a recent common ancestor and are therefore not identical by descent. IBS segments are spurious segments (pseudo-

segments) which have the appearance of being a continuous long segment but which are in fact composed of two or

more compound segments. IBS segments result in false-positive match predictions with autosomal DNA tests. There

CAN be some value in their content, you just need to recognize that not all segments are from one common ancestor.

Some testing companies may include IBS matches with your results. For example, Ancestry.com’s DNA test often

provides customers with a lot of matches – one genetic genealogy student had over 7,000 of them! But the probability

that she was related to all of those matches was close to nil. Even by Ancestry.com’s “confidence” measure of their

estimates, most of these matches were in the “very low” range.

How can autosomal DNA tests help me find my ancestors? Autosomal DNA testing is the latest advance in looking at how humans are related. For under a hundred bucks and a

little tube of spit or a painless inside the cheek scraping, you can test enough of your atDNA to help you find blood

relatives you never even knew existed. These tests make it possible to examine your universal lineage.

Other tests, such as Mitochondrial DNA and Y-DNA, only provide matches in your direct ancestral line: Mitochondrial

DNA tests are for both males and females and can only identify matches in your direct maternal line; Y-DNA tests are for

males only and only examine a man’s direct paternal line.

3 Unless you’re an identical twin.




Autosomal DNA tests, on the other hand, allow you to discover family members both inside and outside of your direct

paternal and maternal lines – regardless if you’re male or female. That’s because your matches also randomly inherited

atDNA from a common ancestor.

This means the number of relatives you can find significantly increases – You may discover a maternal second cousin

once removed, a paternal great-uncle – even entire branches of your family tree! The possibilities range from parent-

child relationships to very distant cousins. It all depends on who has also tested at your testing company.

The very randomness of atDNA that makes is possible to find relatives on both sides of your tree is also the reason

testing companies cannot tell you on which side of your tree or exactly how you are related to a match.

The key to making autosomal DNA testing work for genealogy purposes is to identify the ancestors your share with your

matches. And this requires some additional work (hey, you’ve already sacrificed some spit for the cause…what’s a little

sweat going to hurt?) This course will show you how.

Figure 1 A Visual of How DNA is Passed Down (Family Tree DNA)

And that concludes our basic genetics lesson. Now that wasn’t so painful, was it?




Autosomal DNA Testing for Genetic Genealogy

What atDNA testing can’t do: • Tell you exactly how you are related to your matches All of the

companies provide estimates of your relationship to a match based on their proprietary algorithms.

• Name your ancestors • Determine if a match is on your maternal or paternal side • Guarantee all matches are indeed related to you • Provide exact ethnicity estimates. That’s because you have randomly

inherited DNA from ancestors who may have lived in many different parts of the world over the centuries.

What atDNA testing can do: • Identify both male and female relatives on your maternal and

paternal lines • Help adoptees trace their biological family members – including birth

mothers and fathers • Fill in holes in your family tree • Prove or disprove a relationship to a reputed ancestor • Break down a brick wall at the end of a paper trail • Learn about traits and conditions that may be associated with specific

genes • Estimate your ethnicity by comparing your DNA to certain populations

in different regions of the world




Pop Quiz 1

How are you related to your father’s paternal great-aunt’s

grandson?

Section 2. Meet your Matches The results of your autosomal atDNA test are in, and you’ve got matches! You may have a handful or even thousands of

matches (common for Ashkenazi Jews) when you get your results. They might be as distant as a fourth cousin twice

removed; or, if you’re really lucky, your match is closely-related, narrowing down the possibilities for identifying your

common ancestor to just a handful of candidates.

These matches are the folks in your testing company’s database who have also tested and share some of the same DNA

you do, meaning you both inherited the same segments of DNA from a common ancestor. Most of your matches will be

cousins. They can be related to you on your maternal or paternal line (and sometimes even both because of

intermarriages between families)… but they are not all necessarily related to each other. Your father’s grandmother is

likely not related to your mother’s great-grandmother.

But who your common ancestor is and exactly how you are related to a match can vary due to the randomness of DNA

inheritance and the multiple types of relationships the amount of shared DNA can indicate.

In most cases, there is no initial way to determine which side of the family is which unless you both know your family

trees well. You’ll notice that your matches will tend to fall into two camps when you start comparing them to each

other, and eventually, you may be able to determine which camp is which – maternal or paternal relatives.

The trick is to figure out which DNA cousins are related to each other and how they are related to each other. That will

help you trace the Most Common Recent Ancestor (MRCA) to whom you are most likely related so you can build or

expand your own family tree.

And if you asked yourself, “What the heck is a fourth cousin twice removed, anyway?”, the next section will be helpful

for both family reunions and genetic genealogy!

Understanding Kinship The first thing you may have noticed about your match is the “relationship range” or “predicted relationship” with each

match provided by your testing company. Figuring out how you’re related to your extended relatives during family

reunions is challenging enough. But when you look at your match list, the number and range of relationships provided

can be overwhelming – especially if you don’t know much about your family tree!

Every person in your family has a descriptive label to indicate their relationship to you. You’ve got great uncles, great

great-aunts, first cousins, second cousins once removed, etc. … on both sides of your tree and up and down your tree!

The more people in your family, the more labels there are.

Have you ever tried to explain your relationship to your father’s paternal great-aunt’s grandson to someone? (We’ll give

you a gold star if you can figure out the relationship).


http://dnaadoption.com/uploads/DNAadoption/DNAadoption_files/General/Ashkenazi.pdf



Seems like it’s easier to just say “cousin.”

In genetic genealogy, though, understanding your possible relationship to a match is a valuable clue you can use to

identify an ancestor. This knowledge can help you figure out where to look in family trees for ancestors.

Cousins

Let’s start with the definition of a cousin. In our culture, most people use this term to refer to the children of aunts and

uncles, who are actually first cousins. Plus, there are second, third, fourth cousins, etc. And these are just the cousins

who were born in the same generation you were!

Your tree also contains cousins born in the generations before and potentially after you. That’s how we get the

“removed” in cousin relationships. No, “removed” doesn’t mean they have been banned from the family reunion

dessert table. “Removed” simply means that you and a cousin are a specified number of generations apart.

Another way to put it is that you’re not just first cousins with your aunt/uncles’ children. You are also first cousins with

your parents’ first cousins (one generation away from you = first cousins once removed), your grandparents’ first cousins

(two generations away from you = your first cousins twice removed), your great-grandparent’s first cousins (three

generations away from you = your first cousins, thrice removed), and so on.

And that’s not all…

In the generations below you, you are first cousins with your first cousins’ children (first cousins once removed),

grandchildren (first cousins twice removed), great-grandchildren (first cousins thrice removed), etc. It works the same

way for second, third, and fourth cousins who were not born in the same generation.

No wonder it’s easy to lose count!

Speaking of counting, there is a simple mathematical way to determine your relationship with a cousin. (Check out the

Kinship Cheat Sheet if numbers aren’t your thing. Don’t like charts, either? Okay… if you really want to make this easy,

check out this relationship calculator).

Calculating Your Relationship with a Cousin If you know the common ancestor you share (and even if you don’t know yet, file this away for future reference when

you’re building family trees), count the number of adjectives before the word “parent,” which are all of the “greats” plus

the word “grand.” This tells you how many generations there are between the both of you and the ancestor you share. If

you and the cousin were born in a different generation, the word “removed” will be included to indicate the difference

in generations you are from your MRCA, like a first cousin once removed.

Let’s use the formula to determine a relationship. Say the MRCA you share with a cousin is your great-great grandparent

and the cousin’s great-great-great grandparent. Each “great” and “grand” equals one generation. Add them together for

each person, like in the example below:

There are three generations between you and the MRCA: great + great + grand = 3.

Your cousin is four generations away from the MRCA: great + great + great + grand = 4.


http://www.cousincouples.com/cusndlg.htm



Pop Quiz 2

You meet a female relative who tells you that she is

your maternal first cousin twice removed. Who could

be the common ancestor you share (male and

female)?

The smaller of the two numbers tells you the degree of cousinship. In this case, the smaller number is three, so

you are third cousins.

Now subtract the smaller number from the larger number: 4 – 3 = 1.

That’s difference in the number of generations between the two of you to your common ancestor, or the degree

of removal.

Therefore, you are third cousins once removed.

Here’s another example:

You and your cousin share great-great grandparents.

You: great + great + grand = 3.

Your cousin: great + great + grand = 3.

The numbers are the same. That means you are third cousins. Since there is no difference in the numbers, you

are both in the same generation and there is no degree of removal.

This trick is helpful when your both know your common ancestor. But what if you don’t know who that ancestor is and

don’t even have a family tree?

Estimating Your Common Ancestor with a Match When You Don’t Know Your MRCA (For Close

Matches) Now let’s say you have a match who is predicted to be somewhere between a second to third cousin, but you don’t

know who your MRCA is or even which side of either tree your MRCA is on. You can take a stab at figuring out how you

and your match may be related. Basically, you’re going to guestimate the potential ancestors you might share – and then

research those possible “suspects” on both sides of the tree.

Here’re some clues on where to look:

Let’s examine how someone is related to a second cousin. The word “second” is a clue in where to look for the common

ancestor. “Second” is analogous to “two.” So add two adjectives, “great” and “grand,” in front of the word “parent.”

Now you know that you and your match potentially share great-grandparents.




Pop Quiz 3

FTDNA says that your relationship with a match is

somewhere in second to third cousin range. Name

two possible MRCAs you could share.

Pop Quiz 4

About how much DNA in percentages might you

share with a double first cousin?

Now look at it the other way around. If you know you share great-grandparents but don’t know what your relationship is

with a cousin, use the number of adjectives before the word “parent.” That means you’ll add the ordinal “second” in

front of cousin, and you’ll know the relationship is that of a second cousin.

Here’s another example: You and a match are predicted to be third cousins. “Third” and “three” are analogous. To

determine your MRCA, add three adjectives (great-great grand) before the word “parent” to get “great-great

grandparents.” If you know you share great-great-grandparents with a cousin and want to know how you are related to

each other, just flip the words around. There are three adjectives in front of parent, so add the ordinal “third” in front of

“cousin” and that’s how you are related!

However, in the range provided by the testing company, you could also be second cousins once removed, second

cousins twice removed, etc., and third cousins once removed, third cousins twice removed, etc.

That’s when you look at the possible cousin relationships at all of the second, third and even fourth cousin levels. These

would be the first cousins of the 2x and 3x grandparents (or maybe even 4x grandparents) in a family tree. A degree

removed from that first cousin relationship would be through their children and aunts/uncles. Two degrees removed

would be through their grandchildren, great aunts and uncles, etc.

This tells you to build a family tree not only up to the fourth cousin level, but laterally, as well, at each level to be sure to

you’re looking at all of the possible relationships you share with your match. Your tree should also go up at least one

level above your highest match so that you include those ”removeds.”

Anomalies in Some Family Trees

Now that you’ve “met” some of your relatives, let’s point out unusual relationships you might find when doing research.

Two cousins whose parents were siblings married two siblings. Their children are related to both parents so they are

double cousins. Half cousins are the children of half siblings. And please don’t be shocked if you see two first cousins

who married. Even though laws might have been on the books, this often happened anyway. Perhaps the most

surprising relationship you could encounter is no relationship at all where there would normally be one – a non-parental

event (NPE) is when the father isn’t biologically the father after all! (Use your imagination)




Figure 2 Mesa’s Favorite Kinship Chart




Section 3. Meet the Ancestors To determine your exact relationship with a match, you have to identify the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA)

from whom you both descend. If you know your family tree, great! You can contact your match and compare notes

using your handy-dandy Kinship Cheat Sheet.

But what if you don’t know your family tree or have gaps in it?

There’s still a way to figure these relationships out. A clever workaround, often called “triangulation” (and also known

as the “Methodology” on DNAAdoption.com), can help you identify the common ancestors you share with your

matches. The strategy is to figure out who your ancestors are by identifying their ancestors.

This is done by comparing the family trees of two or more of your closest matches who are also related to each other.

These matches are referred to as “in common with” (ICW) each other as well as you, meaning you are all related on the

same side of your tree – even if you don’t yet know which side.

As you discover biological relatives through your ICW matches, you can successfully grow and expand your own family

tree.

Figure 3 Simple Triangulation

The triangulation graphic above gives you an idea of the concept. You are related to both Match A and Match B. Match A

and B overlap with you and each other, as well, meaning they are also related to each other.

Triangulation Requirements

Your matches need three things to be viable candidates for triangulation:

1. Overlapping DNA on the same chromosome with at least one of your other matches 2. They are also related to each other (ICW). 3. They have family trees.

Did we lose you when we said “overlapping segments of DNA on the same chromosome?” Don’t worry… by the end of

this course you’ll be saying it in your sleep and can impress family and friends.

You

Match B

Match A


http://dnaadoption.com/uploads/DNAadoption/DNAadoption_files/General/Methodology_revised.pdf



Geek Speak for the Amount of DNA Shared with a Match

Depending on which testing company you used, you’ll also see terms that quantify the amount of DNA you have in

common with a match, such as centiMorgans (cMs), “longest block,” “percent shared,” and “segments.” As if the cousin

relationships weren’t hard enough to figure out…

… which is probably one of the reasons you enrolled in this course!

So we’re going to make it easy… we’re going to review a handful of terms that really matter when it comes to

understanding the amount of DNA you share with a match.

The Top Four Shared DNA Terms

1. centiMorgan (cM for short): A genetic unit of measurement (we could get a lot more technical but we’re trying to simplify). The highest amount you could potentially share with a match is around 3,400 cMs – and that would indicate your match is a parent or sibling. The least amount considered to be IBD is 7 cMs, around a fourth to fifth cousin. Any matches under 7cMs are often IBS and are not considered reliable for use in genetic genealogy. In this course, we will use centiMorgans as the default measurement when working with our DNA data.

2. Longest block – the longest continuous stretch of DNA you share on a chromosome; often a good indicator of how closely related you are to the match (Family Tree DNA)

3. Segment – generic term for DNA that overlaps with a match on the same chromosome (23andme, DNAAdoption.com, Family Tree DNA)

4. Percent shared – the amount of DNA you have in common with a match in percentages; see “How much DNA do we share with our biological family members?” in Section 1. (23andme)

Do you notice a theme? All of the above terms are “related” to each other. The main thing to know is that the higher the

number, the more closely related you are to your match.

We’ve included another must-have chart below to show you what the numbers mean. Keep in mind that the % of

Shared DNA is an average… it could be less or it could be more. And the number of cMs can vary, too.

You can blame that on the randomness of DNA inheritance, too.




Pop Quiz 5

You and a match share 95 cMs. What are some of the

possible relationships you could have with each other?

Shared DNA Cheat Sheet

% of

Shared DNA

cMs

(FTDNA) Estimated Relationship

100% 6766 Identical twins (monozygotic twins)

50% 3400 Mother, father, full siblings

50% 2460 Full siblings

25% 1700 Grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, half-siblings, double first cousins

12.5% 850 Great-grandparents, first cousins, great-uncles, great-aunts, half-

aunts/uncles, half-nephews/nieces

6.25% 425 First cousins once removed, half first cousins

3.125% 212.50 Second cousins, first cousins twice removed

1.563% 106.25 Second cousins once removed, half second cousins

0.781% 53.13 Third cousins, second cousins twice removed

0.391% 26.56 Third cousins once removed

0.195% 13.28 Fourth cousins

0.0977% 6.64 Fourth cousins once removed

Please note that all numbers are averages and have been rounded up for convenience.

Figure 4 Shared DNA Cheat Sheet (ISOGG)

Section 4. Meet the Technology: Crunching the Numbers You now have an idea of how the process works. And you’re still probably overwhelmed with the amount of effort it’s

going to take to figure it all out. Let’s say you also have 7,000+ matches on Ancestry – there’s no way you could ever

manually compare all of those matches with each other!

Isn’t there a better way to make sense of it all? Yes, there is, thanks to our flagship website, DNAGEDCOM.com. Rob Warthen, together with other generous volunteers, has created a suite of tools that will save you hours of time. These


http://www.dnagedcom.com/

http://www.dnaadoption.com/index.php?page=about-us

http://www.dnaadoption.com/index.php?page=about-us



Excel Tutorials on the Web

All versions: http://www.msoffice-tutorial-training.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L1OVkw2ZQ8

tools may very well identify relatives you may have otherwise missed. Throughout this class you will thank Rob and gang many times for saving you untold hours of work. Please support the cause if you find these tools helpful. If you haven’t done so already, register for your free account. DNAGEDCOM.com will automatically generate files containing formatted data that can be used to triangulate your matches, which we’ll do in Section 6.

Your Techie Toolbox

1. Numero Uno: That free account on DNAGEDCOM.com. This site contains many great gifts to the genetic genealogy community, and you’ll use them often. Please remember to support the cause as you use these tools and see how they save your sanity! Note that new tools are constantly being developed and we’ll share any important updates with you in our DNAAdoption forum on Yahoo!, as well as in our class forum.

2. A free account on GEDmatch.com. GEDmatch.com also contains some data crunching tools that are particularly useful for those who tested at Ancestry.com. Ancestry is the only one of the major three testing companies that does not provide quantifiable data (numbers) for your matches. GEDmatch.com has utilities that allow you to work with this data the same way we will work with FTDNA and 23andme data. But be warned: GEDmatch is a little buggy. When we say buggy, we mean that it can suddenly go down for days or even weeks at a time. Even when you can use the site, it may take weeks to process your data. So upload it early. Instructions are provided in Section 6. If you have already uploaded your raw data to GEDmatch, there is no need to upload the same data again. Your raw data does not change.

3. Genealogy software to build trees. Ancestry.com is recommended so you can utilize their “hint” system. As you

build trees, Ancestry automatically searches its numerous databases to provide information for the people in

those trees – family names, birthdates, residences, children, etc. This system can help you expand trees by

automatically finding more relatives through census records, other family trees, city directories, obituaries, etc.,

a valuable feature that no other site has. It’s well worth the subscription price and is also available on a month-

to-month subscription basis, which is $19.99. Even if you just subscribe for the duration of this course, you’ll

benefit immensely from it.

4. Spreadsheets help you identify and track your ICW matches. In the examples throughout this course, we’re using Excel 2010, so the instructions provided may be a little different in your software or Excel version. No matter which spreadsheet software/version you use, it should be able to do everything we’re doing in this. You may have to look in your user manual or search Google for the exact instructions on how to use a command. P.S. If you’re new to Excel, we’ve got you covered. We’ll help you learn as you go by showing you the steps to take with each task. We’ve also included some links in the info box below to online resources, including a site that offers tutorials in all versions of Excel and a helpful video tutorial of Excel basics in less than 10 minutes.


http://www.msoffice-tutorial-training.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L1OVkw2ZQ8

http://www.dnagedcom.com/Account/Register.aspx



Section 5: Meet the Data: What You’re Crunching In this course, you’ll work with a lot of different types of data to help you identify your relationships and

ancestors. Here are the definitions all “prettified” for you in a table. You’ll gather some of this data in

Section 6 so it’s ready to be organized and analyzed in Lesson 2.

Genetic Genealogy Data Types Type of Data What it is Why it’s Useful

Chromosome Browser (CB) A chromosome browser shows you specifically where you share DNA with your match – the amount and on which chromosome. This data can be displayed in a either a graphical or an alphanumerical format.

This tool is your primary document for comparing your matches to see which ones also share overlapping segments of DNA

Comma-separated Value Files (CSV)

A generic computer file format containing data that can be imported into different applications (like GEDCOMs) and formatted. CSV files are most commonly used to import data into spreadsheets and databases.

Many of the files you will use are in CSV files so that they can be opened in different applications, much like GEDCOMs.

GEDCOMs Family trees in a computer file format that can be used by most genealogy programs, including Ancestry.com. GEDCOM (pronounced JED-com), is short for Genealogical Data COMmunication.

GEDCOMs provide multiple clues to aid your search. They contain surnames, lineages of your matches, and perhaps even the name of your ancestors! When you have two ICW matches with GEDCOMs, you can potentially figure out who your ancestor is by identifying common their ancestor.

In Common With (ICW) You already know this one, right? For review, an ICW, or “In Common With” match is related to both you and at least one of your other matches.

This indicates that your relationship with your match is on the same side of your family tree, making ICW matches ideal candidates for triangulation.

Match Data All the information available about your matches - their names, contact information, predicted relationship with you, amount of shared DNA, family surnames, family trees, etc.

Match data can help you determine if a match is a good candidate for triangulation.

Overlapping Segments of DNA The inherited DNA you and your match(es) share, indicating you descend from the same ancestor. You and your matches are almost always related. However, other matches who also share the same overlapping segments of DNA may not be related to each other.

These help you identify which matches also share the same segments with each other to see if they are ICW. If they are ICW, then you are all likely related on the same side of your tree.

Raw Data This is the information provided by a sample of your saliva or a painless inside the cheek scraping – some 700,000 pieces of data – before it is analyzed by your testing company’s proprietary software.

Raw data can be downloaded from each testing company and processed by different tools and utilities. You can even upload your raw data from one testing company to another if they used the same test chip.

Surnames Last names. Surnames are clues that also help you identify your common ancestors. This is particularly true for males, whose surnames rarely change from generation to generation.




Section 6: On Your Mark, Get Set, Go Gather Your Data! OK, let’s get started on this journey. First things first: packing! In this section, you’re going to collect the data you

need for this class, much like you gather your bathing suit, sunscreen and flip flops for a trip to the beach. Later,

we’ll review the data, what it does and how we’ll use it in Lesson 2.

1. Generate your FTDNA Data Files on DNAGEDCOM DNAGEDCOM.com will gather all of your FTDNA match data and format it into files that can be opened as spreadsheets. A. Login to DNAGEDCOM (www.dnagedcom.com)

B. Select the Family Tree DNA link and then select “Download Family Tree DNA Data.”

Enter your FTDNA kit number and password. This is the same kit number and password you enter when you log in to Family Tree DNA. Note: Your FTDNA password is never stored or shared.

C. Create GEDCOMs from your matches’ family trees: Click the “Get GEDCOM” box (highlighted in red). This tells DNAGEDCOM.com to generate GEDCOMs for any family trees posted by your first 500 FTDNA matches.

D. Click the “Get Data” button at the bottom of the screen. Generating your data files can take up to two hours depending on how many matches you have and how many have posted their family trees.


http://www.dnagedcom.com/



E. Extract and Download FTDNA Data Files from DNAGEDCOM.com

1) After DNAGEDCOM.com generates your data, a compressed file automatically downloads to your PC and is located in your web browser’s default download folder (usually it’s the folder called “Downloads.”) This “zipped” file actually contains three files: your chromosome browser data, your Family Finder matches and your ICW file.

Tip: A *.zip or *.gz file temporarily shrinks files so that they can be transmitted faster. These compressed files have to be “unzipped” to open them.

2) Unzip this file to the directory of your choice. Right-click on the .zip file and select “Extract All”

(Or skip down to Step 3 to download these files already unzipped.).

All three files will have the *.csv extension and begin with your FTDNA kit number.

3) If you prefer not to work with *.zip files, you can download the uncompressed files directly from DNAGEDCOM.com, which stores a copy of your data files on its servers as a backup free of charge. Hover your cursor over the “Members” link in the menu bar, and scroll down to “View Files” from the drop-down menu that appears. Your data files are all located in the FTDNA folder on the left-side of the screen. Double-click on the folder containing your FTDNA kit number. Your data files will then appear on the right-side of the screen. Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard and click on the files you want to download with your left mouse button to highlight them. Once highlighted, click on the files again with your right mouse button (not the left one!) and select “Download” to download them to your PC.

Your GEDCOMs are located in the folder marked “GEDCOM” and can be downloaded separately following the same keyboard clicks in step 3.




F. DNAGEDCOM Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble with DNAGEDCOM, please try the following steps which may quickly solve your problem. If you continue to have problems, please contact [email protected]. Please be sure to include your login information so we can review your account. Blank or empty files are downloading. 1) Log in to DNAGedcom. Click on the "Members" tab, then "View Files." If there are any downloads, they will show as folders in the left-hand column. Click on the folder you want and the individual files will appear in the right-hand column. Double-click on the file and it will download as an individual file to your computer. 2) If the folders contain no files, please check your login information for the account you are trying to download. Bad passwords and incorrect user IDs are the main reason you receive an empty folder. Remember, you have to use your FTDNA/23andMe user IDs and passwords. Visit the test site and make sure you can login using that sire’s user ID and password. User IDs for FTDNA will be a number (i.e. 123456 or B1234 or N1234); user IDs for 23andMe will be an email address. I cannot log in. 1) Remembering your DNAGEDCOM user ID and password is essential. You can try to reset your password if you have forgotten it by clicking on "Reset Your Password Here" on the login page. An email will be sent to the email address associated with your DNAGEDCOM account with a new password. 2) If this does not solve your problem, please contact us at [email protected]. I can’t open the files that downloaded 1) The download file will be in a *.zip file format. Depending on your operating system, it may try to open it prior to saving. Please just save it to a location you can remember. Right click on the *.zip file and select "Extract all." 2) If you still can't open it to extract the files, you can click on the "Members" tab, then "View Files" at DNAGedcom. If your files successfully completed processing, they will show as folders in the left hand column. Click on the folder you want and the individual files will appear in the right hand column. Doubleclick on the file and it will download as an individual file to your computer. We strive to respond to messages as soon as possible. If these tips don't help, e-mail us at [email protected] and give us your login name and a screen shot if applicable and we will respond as soon as we can. Please remember, though, that we are volunteers.

2. Download your Raw Test Data from your Testing Company/Companies for GEDmatch GEDmatch (www.gedmatch.com) accepts uploaded raw data from each of the three major consumer testing companies for analysis. It uses a slightly different algorithm to compare your raw test data with that of other users who have also uploaded theirs, regardless of which company was used. It’s basically like getting an extra DNA test for free, and you may find new matches! Raw data from each testing company is downloaded in a zipped (compressed) file to your browser’s default Downloads folder. Do NOT open it. You will upload it to GEDMatch still zipped.


http://www.gedmatch.com/



A. Instructions for Downloading your Raw Test Data from your Testing Company/Companies 1) FTDNA: To upload your Family Tree DNA raw data to GEDMatch, you have to get two different files

from FTDNA. Both are located under My FTDNA, Family Finder, and Download Raw Data from the drop down menu after you login. Scroll down the page and click the arrow beside “Build 36 Autosomal Raw Data.” The zipped file is automatically downloaded to your web browser’s Downloads folder. Next, click the arrow beside “Build 36 X Chromosome Raw Data” which will also automatically download. Both files end in a *.gz extension and contain your kit number in their names.

2) 23andme: To download the raw genetic data, log in and click on the Profile menu in the upper right corner of the screen and select Browse Raw Data from the dropdown. On the Browse Raw Data page, click on the Download link on the top right of the page. Note: The download feature requires you to re-enter your account password as well as enter your answer to the secret question that you chose during account setup.

3) AncestryDNA: Login to your account and click on the DNA tab, then click the Settings button. On

the right-hand side of the Settings page you will see “Download you raw raw DNA data” in the “Actions” box. Click “Get Started.” Ancestry.com will require you to reenter your password. You will receive a confirmation email at the email address associated with your Ancestry.com account, which will contain your download instructions.




Can’t Find Your Downloaded Files in Windows?

Open Windows Explorer (tap the key in the lower right-hand corner of your

keyboard that has four squares on it (like a window, get it?). While holding this

key, tap “e” on your keyboard. Windows Explorer will open. You should see your

Downloads folder on the left. Click the folder. Still can’t find your files in the

folder? A nifty way to find the most recent files you downloaded (‘cause you

don’t always know the file names) is to sort them by Date Modified in descending

order. This means the most recent files are listed first, making them easy to find.

Just right-click (not the left mouse button!) anywhere on the right side of the

screen, select Sort By, Date Modified and Descending from the pop-up menu.

Using Google Chrome? Downloaded files will show at the bottom of the browser

screen. Right-click on the downloaded file and select “Show in Folder,” and it will

take you right to the file.

3. Upload your Zipped Raw Data File(s) to GEDMatch A. Login to your GEDMatch account. B. On the right side of the screen, click the appropriate link in the “File Uploads” box to upload the raw data

from your testing company. Note: You have to do each company’s data one-at-a-time.


http://www.gedmatch.com/



3) Follow the on-screen instructions carefully for each test. Some information is mandatory, and the name you enter must exactly match the name you used at the testing company for the file to be processed, but other information is optional. You can also use an alias instead of your real name, if desired.

To learn more about the other features on GEDMatch, read the “Using GEDMatch” instructions on DNAadoption.com at http://www.dnaadoption.com/UsingGEDMatch.aspx. GEDMatch also has information on its web site.

All done! Take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back. But don’t get too cozy… in the next lesson we’re going to do some serious number crunching!

Section 7: Meet your Internal Resources: Boosting Your Odds of Success on This Unique

Journey We know… it’s a lot of work even with all of the support and tools available. You just went on a long leg of the journey in

the previous sections. There’s still no guarantee you will find what you are looking for during your search. But we can tell

you this: we’ve seen this method work time and again for many travelers on the journey to learn about their biological

family members.

For this journey, be sure to invite the best travel companions you have: your own internal resources.

First you need knowledge. Which you’re going to get in this course. Way to go! This is the roadmap (or some would even

say treasure map) that will guide you.

You’re also going to need inspiration for those inevitable dead-ends and detours. Read some heart-warming success

stories now. And then read them again if you find yourself getting discouraged. These are people who started just where

Handy Microsoft Office Hints by Diane Harman-Hoog

For all Microsoft Office products, these keyboard shortcuts will save you time!

Ctrl–C Copies what you have highlighted with your mouse. Hold down the Ctrl key and press

C.

Ctrl-X Cuts (removes) highlighted text or graphics from the source and copies it into the

clipboard (your computer’s memory). Then you can use it in another place.

Ctrl-V Puts either information back in where you placed the cursor. This is very handy for

moving information around.

Ctrl-Z Undo. Made a mistake? This command undoes the last action you took. Use it multiple

times in a row to undo a series of mistakes.

If you are working between several open screens/programs, Alt-tab takes you back and forth.


http://www.dnaadoption.com/UsingGEDMatch.aspx

http://dnaadoption.com/index.php?page=reunions

http://dnaadoption.com/index.php?page=reunions



you did… with a little spit and a lot of uncertainty. They have kindly shared their stories, struggles and successes so that

you can see the possibilities for your search.

Keep your patience, perseverance, determination and wisdom in your carry-on bag at all times – these will help you

know when to step away and when to come back; when to ask for help and when to push forward; when to hone your

private detective skills and when to back off.

Last, an unusual skillset you’ll need is that of a good politician – or a tough Southern belle – whichever you prefer. Why?

Because you cannot do this alone. You need the help of many good people to transport you over rough patches, provide

directions to get you to the next stop, and greet you at your ultimate destination.

You’ll be amazed at the kindness of strangers when you are open and grateful for their contributions along the way. And

even if you never find what you seek, you will find that the people who help and support you are the ones who make the

journey worthwhile no matter where you land.

Rob Warthen, who started it all, offers his insights based on his search below:

This is a journey. You will see new things and learn new things for the first time. Not as a toddler,

but as an adult. You will have a new appreciation for every tiny bit of new information that you

learn. Some of it will just be interesting. Other peoples’ direct ancestors that are descendants of

your ancestors. Some of it will be exciting and you may feel it just fits. Still some will be a curiosity

but you won’t find out until later why.

This is a journey. Enjoy every small detail. Remember what you do find are people who are

ultimately related to you somehow. When your gut tells you to look into something and learn

about it, enjoy that journey. Look at it and see what happens. Ask questions about what you see

to DNA experts and they can let you know the significance of that discovery. Not everything will

be significant. The DNA experts have seen a lot of this and have learned (often the hard way)

what works and what doesn’t work. So we are here to help guide so you don’t waste your time.

But even though you may not have your answer now, the next day or even this year, you will

learn new things about yourself and your ancestry.

So sit back and enjoy the journey. Savor every new item and know that each discovery and each

failure brings you just one more step towards your goal.

Section 8. Course Q & A Q: Well, this all sounds like it could work… but can it work for me?

A: Many variables affect your odds of success: It is dependent on your matches having family trees available. It is dependent on people sharing knowledge and information. It is dependent on how many matches you have to work with.

There are no guarantees, but we have seen successes every week come out of working the methods, whether you are an adoptee or just trying to break down those brick walls.




DNA science is almost like magic, opening doors that were previously forever closed. But it does not sprinkle fairy dust on your spreadsheets or present you with an immediate answer. What it does is give you information that can solve the question of who your unknown relatives are.

Q: What do I do if I need help?

A: Simply ask. Either post in the class forum or the DNAAdoption newsgroup on Yahoo! The DNAAdoption community is quick to respond and has experts in numerous subjects. For technical issues, please read DNAGEDCOM’s troubleshooting page.

Q: What can I do if I’m an adoptee with no information on my biological family?

A: We highly recommend that any adoptee apply for their non-identifying information from the agency or state they were adopted in. If your non-id is more than 3-5 years old, re-apply. It’s your right. We also recommend you test at all three companies to get the best exposure to all the databases. Also:

1. Put together a file with all the information you have on your birth and adoption, including copies of any birth or adoption documents that you may have and keep some kind of journal, spreadsheet, or Word document to record any progress. 2. Have you or are you working with anyone else to help them find your families? Occasionally we find that some adoptees have contacted other search angels who already have done some work. This prevents duplication of efforts. 3. Are you registered with any state adoption registries? Have you posted your search to any online adoption registries or databases? 4. Depending on which state you were born and/or adopted in, you may already be eligible for original birth certificates or other information. Twenty states do have some records open, either complete or partial. A list of those can be found at http://www.familytreedna.com/public/adopted/default.aspx?section=news We also recommend you join the yahoo group DNAAdoption at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DNAadoption/. This group is extremely active with experts in all areas of DNA and adoptee searches. Another group that specializes in "Unknown Fathers" is UnknownFathersDNA https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/UnknownFathersDNA/info. Additional information and instructions can be found at http://www.dnaadoption.com

Q: I’m a man, and I’ve heard that Y-DNA testing is important. Should I do that instead of autosomal DNA testing? What

will that test provide that autosomal DNA won’t?

A: Ideally do both. Y-DNA testing examines the Y chromosome and gives males information on their strict paternal line -

their father’s father’s father’s father’s father’s…father. This can make Y-DNA testing very useful in determining

birthfather surnames for male adoptees and those with unknown paternal lines. Autosomal DNA tests will help you

identify members on both sides of your family.


http://www.dnagedcom.com/FAQ.aspx

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/adopted/default.aspx?section=news

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DNAadoption/

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/UnknownFathersDNA/info

http://www.dnaadoption.com/



For males, start with at least Y-DNA37 to help identify a surname. Males should have done at least Y-DNA37 unless they

only have a few matches at a lower level. If you already have done Y-DNA12 or Y-DNA25 and you have a number of

matches, you should upgrade to at least Y-DNA37. You may need to upgrade to Y-DNA67 if you still find too many

different surnames at Y-DNA37. Few testers go to Y-DNA111 unless you have exact matches at Y-DNA67 and others that

you match also have done Y-DNA111. Males should also do their autosomal DNA ("atDNA") (Family Finder or 23andme).

If finances are an issue, then start with one of the lower resolution tests, like the 12 marker Y-DNA test, and upgrade at a

later time. For Y-DNA testing, FTDNA is the only company that we can currently recommend and has the largest Y-DNA

database.

There are a number of Y-DNA tools that can be used to analyze Y-chromosome DNA results or predict haplogroups. See:

http://www.isogg.org/wiki/Y-DNA_tools.

We soon hope to add an additional class on Y-DNA so check the DNAAdoption.com web site and DNAAdoption forum on

Yahoo! for announcements.

You’re all done with Lesson 1. Great job!


http://www.isogg.org/wiki/Y-DNA_tools



Lesson 1 Homework

1. Create accounts on DNAGEDCOM.com and GEDMatch.com. 2. Generate your FTDNA Data Files on DNAGEDCOM, including GEDCOMs 3. Download your Raw Test Data from your Testing Company/Companies for GEDmatch 4. Upload your Zipped Raw Data File(s) to GEDMatch

Pop Quiz Answers

1. Paternal second cousin once removed.

2. Going up your tree, she is your maternal grandfather’s or grandmother’s first cousin. Going down your tree, she is your first cousin’s granddaughter. You can figure out which by comparing her age to yours.

3. Some possible answers are (from the Shared DNA Cheat Sheet):

Second cousins (share great-grandparents), first cousins twice removed (going up the tree you share

your great-grandparents; going down the tree, you share your grandparents).

Second cousins once removed (going up the tree, you share your great-great-grandparents; going

down the tree, you share your great-grandparents) half second cousins (you are both the great-

grandchild of either your great-grandmother or your great-grandfather but not both).

Third cousins (you share great-great grandparents), second cousins twice removed (going up the tree,

you share your great-great-great grandparents; going down the tree, you share your great-great

grandparents)

Third cousins once removed (going up the tree, you share your great-great-great grandparents; going

down the tree, you share your great-great grandparents)

4. About 25% or around 1700 cMs. The actual numbers could vary.

5. You fall somewhere between the estimated relationship ranges below:

106.25 Second cousins once removed, half second cousins

53.13 Third cousins, second cousins twice removed


Relative Roadmap: Your Journey with Autosomal DNA · 2019. 6. 25. · Lesson 1: Hooray for...

Documents

Transcript of Relative Roadmap: Your Journey with Autosomal DNA · 2019. 6. 25. · Lesson 1: Hooray for...