Monday, June 5, 2017

How to help me to help you, or how you can help me....

Several times a day I have people ask me the same questions.  Often, they are people who ask me for help or who I have offered to help with solving a mystery with DNA.  Sometimes they are people I have approached asking them to help me with solving a mystery with DNA.

Everyone always wants to know how to get started, and what I need from them to help them, or what I would like them to do to help me.

Here, in detail, is the steps to take to help me (or help me help you!)

UPLOAD YOUR DNA TO GEDMATCH

This is FREE.  Go to Gedmatch and upload your DNA data.

UPLOAD YOUR DNA TO FTDNA

This is also FREE, with the potential to pay $19 and upgrade the tools you have access to.  Go to FTDNA and upload your DNA data.

OBTAIN YOUR FTDNA CHROMOSOME FILES

There are two files at FTDNA that are very useful.  At the bottom of the page of your Family Finder matches is a link to download your matches.  Download, and possibly send to me.  

Then, if you have unlocked the chromosome browser, go to the chromosome browser and at the top right is a link to download all matches.  Download, and possibly send to me with the first file.

INVITE ME TO VIEW YOUR ANCESTRYDNA MATCHES

Go to your AncestryDNA settings page, partway down is the option to share your matches.  Please invite username yourlinktothepast.

DOWNLOAD YOUR 23ANDME AGGREGATED FILE 

If you are on the "New Experience" at the bottom of your DNA Relatives is a link to download your aggregated file.  Download and possibly send to me.

I recommend inviting all your 23andMe matches to Share.

LINK YOUR FTDNA TO GENI

Go to Geni and make a profile.  Go to the DNA tab (far right) on your profile and using the top option link your FTDNA to Geni.  If possible, add your parents and grandparents, and maybe send me a message to help you get merged into the "big tree".

WHAT I DO WITH THESE FILES:

I clone you, of course! (just kidding)

I input the files into a program called Genome Mate Pro.  Here I can compare all the segments people share with others and this helps with figuring out the mysteries.  Often, this means that as I help one person solve a mystery, it makes it easier to help the next person, as I gradually map out segments of DNA.


No comments:

Post a Comment