Family Tree DNA’s Big Y DNA test can help you distinguish fine shades of relationship on the paternal side of your family tree using YDNA. What is Big Y, and when is it worth taking? In January 2019, FamilyTreeDNA* released the latest-and-greatest version of its Big Y...
DNA triangulation can help you figure out how you’re related to your DNA matches or identify an unknown ancestor on your family tree. Here’s how it can help you with your shared matches and genealogy. I always loved math, but not geometry. Too many complicated...
Last updated: March 24, 2025 Contacting your DNA matches can be like a first date. Follow these 4 “dating tips” to go from awkward to acquainted! The meatiest part of DNA test results for genealogists are the DNA matches: genetic cousins. And if your test...
Chromosome mapping can be a fun way to compare your shared DNA with known matches and assign genetic strands to specific shared ancestors. Here’s how to do this with DNA Painter. Chromosome mapping is one of those “DNA tangents” some people love. It’s a fun way to...
mtDNA testing is the neglected child of genetic genealogy. But mtDNA identified the remains of Jesse James. Could a similar strategy help your family history research? Most of us are interested to hear about the next best thing. But in our haste to adopt the latest...
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