Project 7: DNA

1. In the top menu, click DNA and select Your DNA Results Summary. This displays overview information about your DNA Story, DNA Matches, and ThruLines™.
2. To see details for your DNA Story, click Discover Your DNA Story or select DNA Story from the top menu. This displays the Ethnicity page, with an Ethnicity Estimate box that shows your estimated ethnicity percentages and migration routes, and a world map behind it with regions that are home to your ethnic ancestors.
3. To scroll the map, click and drag on it; to zoom, click the plus or minus buttons or use the mouse wheel; to print DNA information, click the Print icon and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. To share your DNA ethnicity information,
   a) clickShare (upper right);
   b) Click an social media tile to select it; and
   c) Follow the prompts to share the information. You can also copy a link to the information or download it to your device.
5. To learn more about ethnicity estimates, regions, and communities, click the question mark icon (upper left).
6. To explore specific ethnicity regions, click either a colored area on the map that has a solid outline, or an entry in the list (near the top of the right pane). You can also click View History of Region to learn more.
7. To explore ethnicity communities, click a colored area on the map or an entry in the Ethnicity estimate box (right side).
8. To see other regions that were part of your DNA testing,
   a) Click the "View all regions tested" link (bottom of the Ethnicity Estimate screen);
   b) Click a region in the list; and
   c) Click a country or other entry. You can use the double-arrow icon (upper right) to expand or reduce the map.
9. The Ethnicity inheritance section shows your parents' contribution to your DNA. Tap View breakdown to see the following types of information:
   • Parent 1 and Parent 2 circles—These show amounts of DNA contributed by each parent, from identified regions. You can tap a colored region in either of the circles, or select a region from the list at the bottom (the list may be scrollable).
   • Detailed comparison—This shows additional details for each region. To assign parents to each of the half-rings, tap Edit parents. Then based on the segments in the Parent 1 ring, you can select "Maternal" or "Paternal". The other parent is then assigned to the second ring.
10. In the Communities section you can tap an area for settlers or immigrants, if available, from your ancestral regions.

Resources

1. To access additional help articles for the Ancestry DNA screens, see the Help Communities page.
2. To learn how to get the most from your ethnicity results, read this article.
   
   AC: Making the Most of Your Ethnicity Estimate


3. Learn how to track ethnicity with your Ancestry DNA match results.
   
   Ethnicity and Matching—37:20 - 2015
   
   
   Ethnicity, Cousin Matching, and Family Trees—28:03 - 2014
   
   
   

1. In the top menu, click DNA and select DNA Matches. This displays a list of people who share DNA matches with you.
2. To search the list of matches for a name,
   a) Click Search (upper left);
   b) Type a surname or birth location, or both;
   c) If desired check the "Include similar surnames" box; and
   d) Click Search. To clear the search results and return to the original list, click the "Cancel" link (upper right).
3. To sort the list, click Sort (upper right) and select Relationship (close to distant) or Date (newest to oldest).

All Matches

1. To get started, click the All Matches tab. By default, the names are arranged by relationship to you:
   • Column 1 = Parent/Child, Full Sibling, Close Family, 1st Cousin, 2nd Cousin, etc.
   • Column 2 = Relationship details and shared DNA segments. To learn more about the shared DNA with this person, click the corresponding gray info button.
   • Column 3 = Tree size for match person, and link to common ancestor
   • Column 4 = Click "Learn more" for DNA details about the match person. To establish the relationship,
     a) Click "Yes";
     b) Select the relationship type; and
     c) Click Confirm.
2. Click a name in the matches list (or click to display the "Trees" view).
3. In the Trees tab, a Common Ancestors box appears on the left, for you and the match, as well as a preview of the match's family tree, in pedigree form. In the preview, you can click names, expand the tree (upper right), or go to the tree (number link at the top).
4. In the Common Ancestors box, click an ancestor name. A diagram appears, showing your relationship to the match.
5. At the bottom of the Common Ancestors box, click the "View more possible connections" link, if available, to see a window with additional common ancestors.
6. Below the Common Ancestors box, the Shared Surnames box may have one or more surname links you can click, showing a list of ancestors with that surname, in your tree or the match's tree. Click a surname link to see ancestor links with vital data, a View in tree link, and links to the ancestor's spouse and children, if available.
7. Below the Shared Surnames box, the Ancestor Birth Locations box appears. You can do the following things here:
   • In the upper left, click Filter by tree and select whether to view birth locations for both trees, your match's tree, or your tree.
   • Click a colored pin to see ancestor links with vital data, a View in tree link, and links to the ancestor's spouse and children, if available.
   • Zoom the map view, using the plus and minus icons or the mouse wheel.
8. To compare ethnicity with the selected DNA match person, in the gray bar near the top, click Ethnicity. You will see the following things:
   • A chart comparing your ethnicity percentages with those of the DNA match
   • A map showing ethnic regions for you (teal), the match person (yellow), and shared (green)
   • If available, additional tiles are displayed at the bottom, such as "Shared Migrations". Click a tile to learn more.

Matches by Parent

1. In the intial DNA Matches screen, click By Parent. Match information appears for Parent 1, Parent 2, Both Parents, and Unassigned. For more details on parents and DNA, see the Ethnicity steps in Choice A above.
2. To view a filtered list of DNA matches for a parent, click View matches for that parent.
3. To change the matching side for a parent, click Edit parent and make your changes in the right panel.
4. To see a list of common surnames for the a parent's side of the tree, click View more in the surnames box.
5. Next to the By parent tab there are tabs for By ancestor and By location. For more information on thos tabs, see Choice F and Choice E, respectively.

Resources

1. For more information on AncestryDNA shared matches, read this article.
   
   AC: AncestryDNA® Shared Matches


2. To learn more about Ancestry DNA matching, read these articles.
   
   AC: AncestryDNA Matches
   AC: Making the Most of AncestryDNA Matches
3. Learn more about matches by parent.
   
   AC: Using Ancestry SideView by Parent

1. In the All matches screen, find a View match button and click the plus icon to the right of it. (If you need to enable the View match btoon, click Yes for the entry.)
2. To add a person in the list to a group of DNA matches, choose Starred Matches (puts a star next to the "Add to group" link), or the name of an existing group. Then click Add to group. Or,
3. Click "Create Custom Group" and
   a) Type the name of the group to be created;
   b) Click the color tile and select a color for the group, and
   c) Click Save. This adds a colored circle next to "Add/edit groups", and the group name appears in a drop-down list when you click "Add/edit groups".

4. To edit a group,
   a) Click "Add/edit groups";
   b) Click the pencil icon for the group to edit;
   c) Change the title or color as desired, and
   c) Click Save.
5. To delete a group,
   a) Click "Add/edit groups";
   b) Click the pencil icon for the group to delete;
   c) Click "Delete"; and
   d) Click Yes, delete group.
6. To see existing DNA Groups, click Groups (upper left) and select one of the following options:
   • "All matches" (default)
   • "Close matches" (fourth cousin or closer)
   • "Distant matches" (more remote than fourth cousin)
   • "New matches" (ones recently discovered by Ancestry)
   • "Hidden matches" (those you have decided to hide). See this article for details.

1. To filter the DNA match list, click Filters (upper left) and select one of the entries ("Unviewed", "Common Ancestors", "Notes", etc.
2. To add a note for a match,
   a) Open the match entry;
   b) Click "Add note";
   b) Type the note in the window; and
   c) Click Save. This displays your note text in place of "Add note". (Longer notes may be abbreviated; click the link to display the full note.)
3. To remove the note,
   a) Click the note link;
   b) Delete all the characters in the note, and
   c) Click Save.
4. To send a message to the DNA cousin,
   a) Click Message (upper right);
   b) Type a subject and message; and
   c) Click Send.
5. To hide the match, Click Tools (upper right) and select Hide match. Then click the Hide match button. You will still be able to see this cousin from the hidden matches group on your match list. See this article for details.

1. In the DNA Matches screen, click the By location tab. If DNA match persons have added their locations, their pins will appear on the world map.
2. Scroll the map to see other locations; click the plus or minus icons or use the mouse wheel to zoom the view; or click the house icon to return to the original view.
3. To see more information about DNA match persons, click a pin on the map (with a photo or initials). This opens person tiles you can click to see the DNA relationship window for you and that person. For details about what appears on this screen, see Choice F below.
4. If a number circle appears, click it to reveal additional pins you can explore.
5. To filter the matches that appear on the map, click Filter (upper left). You can check any of the relationships in the menu to show them on the map: All, You, Close Family, 2nd Cousins, 3rd Cousins, or 4th Cousins.

ThruLines™ is an Ancestry feature that illustrates how you may be connected to a particular DNA matching person through a common ancestor.

1. In the top menu, click DNA and select ThruLines.
2. To learn about the purpose and characteristics of ThruLines, click the question mark (upper right).

3. In the main ThruLines screen, click a picture or icon. A ThruLines diagram is displayed, showing yourself at the bottom, with your father just above (or a number link if extra generations are included), a row of children, and the ancestor. Evaluate buttons and links for DNA matches, if any, are included for each ancestor. See Choice B for more information on DNA matches.
4. You can move a wide diagram by dragging the lower part of it to the left or right. To display the generations in a number link, click the number; and click again to hide the generations.
5. Click an Evaluate button or ancestor name. A window opens, displaying the following information:
   • Trees Linked to DNA Matches—Shows which member trees linked to your DNA matches have identified relationships shown in ThruLines, including tree owner profiles.
   • Ancestry Member Trees—Shows other member trees that have identified relationships shown in ThruLines, including tree owner profiles.
6. To filter the ThruLines list, click Filter by: (upper left) and select Potential ancestors or Ancestors from your linked tree.
7. To see DNA match information,
   a) Below an ancestor's name, click a DNA Matches link; and
   b) Click a cousin match circle to display the "Trees" view. For more information, see Goal 5: DNA Matches.
8. To view the profile for the cousin (or for the person managing the cousin's DNA test), click the name link at the top.
9. Click the "Shared DNA" link. A window appears with the following information:
   • The number of shared DNA segments
   • The length in centimorgans of the shared DNA segments (higher number means a closer relationship)
   • Percentage table, showing the likelihood of your relationship to the target person based on centimorgans.

Resources

1. For more information on DNA ThruLines, read the article or watch the video.
   
   AC: AncestryDNA® ThruLines™
   ThruLines™ Q&A—37:05 - 2019
   
   
   


2. Get tips on working with ThruLines in this video.
   
   AC—Ancestry® Genealogist Christa Cowan Works with ThruLines™—19:26 - 2020
   
   
   

1. Near the top of the ThruLines page, click the List icon.
2. Click a name tab (or matches link) to see DNA matches for the selected ancestor. Column 1 = match name and link to profile; Column 2 = DNA relationship and link; Column 3 = tree relationship and tree size.
3. Click the cM (centimorgans) link to learn more about the shared DNA characteristics with the matching person.
4. Click View Relationship to see a diagram with family relationship between you and the DNA match.