I have basic DNA understanding, but I need better comprehension of how to tell how many generations

Ali.M. Pili

I have basic DNA understanding, but I need better comprehension of how to tell how many generations I share with DNA cousin matches to our common ancestor. What in the DNA results indicates this? Thanks!

Brett .

@A.M. Pili​ 

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FYI

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Here are some Articles in "FamilySearch" in the matter:

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Knowledge Article

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Using DNA in family history research

https://www.familysearch.org/help/salesforce/viewArticle?urlname=Questions-about-DNA-projects-for-genealogy-1381815628261&lang=en

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Lessons:

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DNA: An Introduction to Genetic Genealogy

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Which includes:-

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Introduction

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1624

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What is DNA?

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1625

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Why is DNA Valuable?

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1626

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Type of DNA

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1627

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DNA and Genealogy

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1628

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Testing Companies

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1629

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DNA: I've Tested, Now What?

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Which includes:-

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Introduction

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1630

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First Steps

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1631

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Cousin Matches

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1632

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Match Clusters

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1633

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DNA First Approach

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1634

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Research First Approach

https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/1635

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"FamilySearch" Wiki

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Hiring a DNA Testing Company

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https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Hiring_a_DNA_Testing_Company

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I hope this helps.

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Brett

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bjnl nz

The best clues you have as to where your DNA match may fit in your family tree relative to you is:

 

1. the amount of centimorgans (cM) you share with the match (which will be shown on your match list); and 

 

2. the matches you share with them (different companies show shared matches in slightly different ways, depending where you have tested).

 

With regard to 1. - 

 

The number of cMs shared with a match is indicative of how close the match may be. The larger the number of cM in common the more likely the match is to be of significance and to indicate a common ancestor within a genealogical timeframe.

 

In addition to the relationship prediction made by the testing company, there are charts and tools that you can use to convert cMs to a range of probable relationships. Probably the most commonly used tool is the shared cM Project Calculator at DNA Painter. This will tell you the relationship probabilities for any given amount of cM shared with a match. You can find it at: https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4

 

This in turn enables you to figure out the likely number of generations that you need to look back to find the most recent common ancestor shared with the match. For example, if one of the relationship probabilities is third cousin (3C), then one of the places you would want to focus on is 5 generations back at 2xGreat Grandparent level.

 

There will always be a range of probabilities though. The lower the shared cM, the more distant the connection will be and the greater the range/number of probable relationships there will be.

 

With regard to 2. -

 

To help figure out which line in your tree, you need to work back on, you can cluster your shared matches. As a starting point, the Leeds method is a really useful methodology for manually grouping your matches using the shared match function in the database your DNA is in.

 

As indicated above, shared matches are presented differently depending on where you tested. The Leeds method is based on Ancestry shared matches but is adaptable to the shared match information from other companies - the method is the same, even though the information may be presented differently by the different companies. You can find information about the Leeds Method at: https://www.danaleeds.com/dna-color-clustering-the-leeds-method-for-easily-visualizing-matches/

 

I hope this helps. I wasn't quite sure what level of information you needed.

 

Ali.M. Pili

Thank you kindly! I will study these.

Ali.M. Pili

Thank you so much! I have some studying to do!