Unsure of how other people were sorting their Shared Matches from AncestryDNA, I developed my own method: the Leeds Method of DNA Color Clustering. This simple and quick method helps you easily visualize how your close cousins are related to you and each other. I created this method while working with an adoptee, and it works wonderfully for unknown parentage cases where the cousins are strangers and their true relationships are unknown. It also works wonderfully with traditional genealogy. In fact, it is being used to break down some more recent brick walls! DNA Color Clustering: The Method Step 1:...
For another look at how Color Clustering works with 4th cousins, I created a Color Cluster chart then added the test taker’s top twenty-five 4th cousin matches. I was able to easily sort all but one of these 4th cousins into Color Clusters! Original Color Cluster Chart (click here for Color Cluster Method) This test taker’s AncestryDNA 2nd & 3rd cousins fell into 4 Color Clusters, labeled C1 through C4, with three “unclustered” cousins. 2nd & 3rd cousins who are in more than one cluster are in red: Barbie, Ken, & Mark. 2nd & 3rd cousins who did not have shared...
If you haven’t read my first two posts about the Color Clustering (aka Leeds) Method, read the original posts: Color Clustering: Creating Color Clusters Color Clustering: Identifying “In Common” Surnames I thought this method would be too messy to work with 4th cousins. But, I figured out yesterday how to make it work: I built my clusters based on the shared matches of 2nd and 3rd cousins and then I just sorted the “4th cousins” into these clusters! Here are the steps I used: STEP 1: Create a color cluster chart. (see first post) Using all of AncestryDNA’s predicted 2nd &...
After creating Color Clusters using the new Color Cluster Method (aka the Leeds Method), the next step is to identify the surnames associated with these groups. (For creating Color Clusters, please read my original Color Clustering post.) Note: This method is especially useful for people working with adoptees or other unknown parentage cases where they do not already know what surnames to concentrate on! COLOR CLUSTERS: Identifying Common Surnames STEP 1: Create Color Clusters and determine which clusters you need to work with (or work with all of them). In this case, the adoptee identified the Blue Cluster as her biological...
Unsure of how other people were sorting their Shared Matches from AncestryDNA, I created my own method. This method is quick – it usually takes less than 10 minutes – and visually shows genetic connections while also “sorting” the matches into groups reflecting the test taker’s great grandparents’ lines. Please test out this method and let me know what you think! Although I think it will be valuable for many genealogists, I think it will be especially useful for adoptees, Search Angels, and others who are trying to identify unknown, close relatives. NOTE: For the examples below, all results are...
I have been immersed in DNA for the past few months! I am ready to start blogging again, but here’s a quick update: January/February: Worked with an adoptee to locate his biological father. May: Attended a 2-day workshop with Blaine Bettinger in Austin and learned how to do Visual Phasing, use some advanced DNA tools, and more! June: Started working with other “unknown parentage” cases and DNA Detectives as a “Search Angel” (meaning without charging). July: Spent a week at GRIP in Pennsylvania taking “Advanced Genetic Genealogy” with CeCe Moore, Blaine Bettinger, Dr. Tom Jones, and genetic counselor Brianne Kirkpatrick...
Diahan Southard, known as “Your DNA Guide,” is a genetic genealogist who teaches through seminars and video training, publishes DNA quick guides, and provides consultation services. On Saturday, Diahan shared three presentations with the members and guests of the Houston Genealogical Forum (HGF). Getting Started in Genetic Genealogy: A Beginner’s Guide During the first presentation, “Getting Started in Genetic Genealogy: A Beginner’s Guide,” Diahan talked about the three types of DNA tests – YDNA, mtDNA, and atDNA – and also the three main testing companies: Family Tree DNA, AncestryDNA, and 23andMe. She discussed the benefits and shortcomings of each type of...
DNA tests can reveal family secrets. When a “secret” has been hidden on the Y chromosome causing the tester’s DNA to not match his own surname, we call it a “non-paternity event.” Somewhere in the past, whether they were aware of it or not, one of the fathers who shared that Y-DNA was not a biological father. And, though the term “non-paternity event” sounds very scientific and cold, the results of realizing one of these events is in your tree can be shocking. Over the past few days, I have followed Bill Griffeth’s story as he tells about his own...
This morning I watched DearMYRTLE’s video, “AncestryDNA Matches with Angie Bush.” Angie is DearMYRTLE’s “DNA expert.” She started by explaining what you can learn from Ancestry DNA matches that have ‘shaky leaf’ hints. I was already comfortable with those. But, next she talked about those matches that DON’T have hints. Up until now, I’ve always ignored those. Many of them have very small trees. The ‘tree’ DearMYRTLE and Angie worked on only had 2 people! But, they were able to figure out the common ancestor! Wow! Angie also pointed out that part of why they were able to make the...