ARKLATEX DNA INTEREST GROUP SEPTEMBER MEETING INFORMATION

ARKLATEX DNA INTEREST GROUP JUNE MEETING INFORMATION

Join us as we learn how to use genetic genealogy DNA testing in our genealogy research.

UPDATE ON UPLOADING YOUR ANCESTRYDNA FTDNA TEST RESULTS TO FTDNA OR GEDMATCH

During my DNA presentations and at our DNA Interest Group meetings, I encourage AncestryDNA test takers to transfer their DNA raw date to FTDNA and to the third party site GEDMATCH, and FTDNA test takers to transfer their raw data to GEDMATCH.

There is no cost to transfer either Ancestry or FTDNA raw data to GEDMATCH - it is absolutely free!  When transferring Ancestry raw data to FTDNA there is a fee of $19 to allow full access to the results on FTDNA (a savings of $60 over the cost of testing at FTDNA)

I recommend that Ancestry test takers transfer their DNA results to both FTDNA and GEDMATCH, and if you have only tested at FTDNA, transfer your DNA results to GEDMATCH.

Why transfer your DNA results to another company?  Two reasons would be, you have additional tools available to analyze your test results and your DNA will be compared to a different database which will result in new DNA cousin matches.  For a more detailed list of reasons visit Jim Bartlett's Segment-ology blog "Why Upload to GEDMATCH or FTDNA?"

Below are links to the instructions for downloading and uploading your DNA results:

First, you will need to download your Ancestry and/or FTDNA raw data to your computer in preparation for the transfer.  It is a good idea to keep these files stored on you computer and back-up in case anything happens to the testing company.  The following two links are the instructions to download both Ancestry and FTDNA to your personal computer.

Download your Ancestry Raw DNA Data

Download your FTDNA Raw DNA Data

Next, you will need to upload your raw DNA data files to either FTDNA or GEDMATCH.  The following two links are the instructions to upload your Ancestry raw data to either FTDNA or GEDMATCH and you FTDNA raw data to GEDMATCH.

Ancestry DNA Upload to FTDNA

Ancestry or FTDNA Upload to GEDMATCH

If you have any questions, email me or plan to come to our next ArkLaTex DNA Interest Group Meeting.

Happy DNA ancestor hunting.

ARKLATEX DNA INTEREST GROUP MAY 2017 MEETING INFORMATION

JOIN US AS WE DISCOVER HOW TO USE DNA TESTING TO FIND NEW COUSINS.

DNA INTEREST GROUP HANDOUT

Click on the following to access the current DNA handout used in the ArkLaTex DNA Interest Group presentations:

DNA Interest Group Handout

Happy ancestor hunting with your DNA matches.

NATIONAL DNA DAY SALES!

To celebrate National DNA Day AncestryDNA and FTDNA have some great sale prices on their DNA tests.

AncestryDNA Sales - https://www.ancestry.com/
Ancestry has their atDNA Test on sale for $79, a 20% discount off the normal price of $99.

FTDNA Sales - https://www.familytreedna.com/

FTDNA has all their DNA tests on sale.  The atDNA Test (FamilyFinder) is $59, which is $20 off their regular price of $79.  They also have excellent sale prices on their mtDNA and Y-DNA tests, along with sale prices on their atDNA tests in combination with mtDNA and Y-DNA tests.

Even though the atDNA test is $20 less on FTDNA, my recommendation is to take the AncestryDNA test at this sale price of $79 and once you get your test results from Ancestry you can transfer your DNA data to FTDNA for only $19.  This way you have in effect taken tests at both companies for only $98 and your DNA results are compared to two different data bases resulting in more cousin matches.  Both testing companies have great tools to analyze your results but Ancestry tools are less difficult to use for the beginner.

I will be giving a presentation on DNA at the GENCOM meeting Sunday 23 April 2017 at 2 PM at the Broadmoor Library, and will be glad to answer any questions that anyone has about DNA testing and working with test results.

Happy ancestor hunting.

ARKLATEX DNA INTEREST GROUP APRIL 2017 MEETING INFORMATION

YES, WE WILL BE COVERING ANCESTRYDNA'S NEW GENETIC COMMUNITIES AT THIS MEETING!

ANCESTRYDNA'S GENETIC COMMUNITIES

If you have looked at your AncestryDNA results it the past few days you have probably noticed a new tool, Genetic Communities, that was added to your AncestryDNA test results on Tuesday 28 April. 

This is a great new tool that I believe that we will be able to use in many ways as we use genetic genealogy to research our family history.  I am just starting to look at this new tool and will give an in-depth presentation of what the new tool is all about and how we can use it in our genealogy research at our Wednesday 12 April 2017 DNA Interest Group Meeting.  In the meantime, see what you can find out about the tool and come to the meeting with some of your discoveries.  At the present time, I have two genetic communities and am interested to see some of the communities that other members in the group are a part of.

Blaine Bettinger presented a live webinar, “Exploring AncestryDNA’s New Genetic Communities”, yesterday on Legacy Family Webinars that you will be available to view FREE through Tuesday 6 April 2017 on their website FamilyTreeWebinars, after which time it will be available to paid members only.

Be sure and take advantage of this free time to view this webinar before our meeting.

AncestryDNA offers help for this new tool by clicking on the question mark in Genetic Communities page once you are viewing your communities.

Several Genetic Genealogists have posted information on this new tool:

*  Blaine Bettinger posted AncestryDNA’sGenetic Communities are Finally Here!.

*  Roberta J. Estes posted GeneticCommunities and More AboutGenetic Communities and Display Problem Hints.

*  Kitty Cooper posted GeneticCommunities at Ancestry are live.

*  Debbie Kennett posted AncestryDNA'snew Genetic Communities have arrived.

More information will follow, after I learn more.

Have a great weekend.

GREAT NEWS! YOU CAN NOW TRANSFER YOUR ANCESTRYDNA AND 23ANDME ATDNA RAW DATA TO FAMILYTREEDNA

Now you can upload your atDNA raw data from AncestryDNA and 23andMe to FamilyTreeDNA.  Click the picture below to go to the FamilyTreeDNA page to transfer the data.  The transfer is free to see the first 20 matches, but for a one time cost of $19, you can see all of your results.

Roberta Estes DNAeXplained - Genetic Genealogy was the first to make the announcement.  Go to her blog for more information.

Happy ancestor hunting.

ARKLATEX DNA INTEREST GROUP FEBRUARY 2017 MEETING INFORMATION