Note: Presentation starts at about the 57 minute mark.
Presentation Description:
This presentation on GEDmatch will address three distinct areas:
1- Setting up and configuring your GEDmatch account for use.
2- A review of the purpose/use of the many free tools.
3- A practical example of the use of GEDmatch to further your research discoveries.
This talk is geared towards those new to GEDmatch or those who have uploaded their DNA data but might have felt intimidated to do more.
Presenter’s Bio:
John’s interest in DNA began many years ago when he started wondering if his father was an only child (like he was). Digging out some old records from his “aunt”, John quickly jumped on the DNA bandwagon with an Ancestry autosomal DNA test, quickly followed by a Family Tree YDNA test. Mostly self-taught, John enjoys sharing information to enable others to jump-start their genealogy research. John is a 20-year US Air Force veteran and currently works for Boeing. He and his wife Darlene live in Shalimar Florida.
Meeting Summarization
The presentation focused on an Introduction to GEDMatch, presented by John Marshall, a DNA enthusiast with a background in genealogy and military service.
GEDMatch is a database where users can upload DNA test results from various companies to compare with others who have tested with different companies.
It offers analytical tools and has about 1.5 million users, providing open access to shared data unless users choose to protect it.
To get started on GEDMatch, users need to join for free, obtain a kit number, and upload their DNA data from testing sites like Ancestry or 23andMe.
To use GEDMatch to find matches with unknown parents, you can follow these steps based on the information provided in the sources:
- Creating an Alias for Privacy: Consider using an alias when registering on GEDMatch to maintain privacy. For example, you can use just your first name like "John" without revealing your last name to other users
- Uploading DNA Data: Upload your DNA data from testing sites like Family Tree DNA to GEDMatch. While there might not be a tutorial specifically for Family Tree DNA, it is possible to upload data from this site to GEDMatch
- Understanding Tools and Terminology: Familiarize yourself with centimorgans, chromosome pairs, X and Y chromosomes, and how they relate to DNA matches. Lower centimorgan values indicate a higher risk of false positives in matches
Utilizing Tools on GEDMatch:
One-to-One Comparison: Use the one-to-one comparison tool to confirm matches by entering kit numbers and analyzing shared segments on specific chromosomes
Two-JEDCOM Comparisons: Compare family trees by inputting two JEDCOM numbers to identify common ancestors without manually searching through trees
DNA Matches with Trees: Use the tool that shows DNA matches with uploaded family trees, making it easier to explore shared ancestry and connections
Visualization Options: Explore visualization tools like the 2D chromosome browser to visually analyze shared DNA segments and identify potential matches for further research
"About Me" page:
Click on the "Learn More" link to find out more about our presenter.
