Showing posts with label Pedigrees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pedigrees. Show all posts

Saturday, December 3, 2022

Genealogical Database Tool (GDAT) - Part 3: Genealogical Tools

 


This post is the third in a series developed to support the GDAT (Genealogical DNA Analysis Tool) Chromosome Analysis Group at the Society of Australian Genealogists (SAG).  It does not replace the extensive user guide and help video tutorials already developed by the GDAT team.  Members of the User Group should always consult those resources first.

You can access Parts 1 and 2 by clicking the links below, or the user guide for more specific information.

* Part 1: Getting Started

* Part 2: Genetic Tools 

* GDAT User Guide.


After setting up and importing your data, as you work with the genetic tools you will want to explore the genealogical tools GDAT has to offer.  Depending on what data you have imported and from where, will determine the results available in GDAT under each of the tools.  Remember GDAT is a database, using loaded DNA segment and pedigree information.  Be conscious of when your GDAT system can/cannot provide this, it may not be possible for all DNA sources at all times.  Again, be aware that the third party tools for extracting this information are constantly subject to change.  



Maximising the amount of pedigree information for your relatives (matches) within GDAT will greatly increase your success when using the genealogical tools.  Remember that the product allows for additional data to be entered manually, plus you can always import GEDcoms generated from your own research to add pedigree information to a relative.


Tree Completeness and DNA Confirmation

There are two things you need to focus on if you want to be successful in working with the GDAT product to analyse your results using chromosome analysis.  Firstly, you must have built your pedigree out as far as you can - the more complete your tree the more chance you will have of being able to identify shared ancestors with your matches.  Secondly, you must be working on a solid DNA base.  What I mean by that is - not only do you know who your ancestors are out to the second great grandparent level, but your DNA results also confirm them as genetic ancestors.  The segments you share with your close cousins are the foundation of what you need to be able to 'walk back your segments' over time to more distant ancestors.

My aim is to identify and DNA confirm all my ancestors out to 5th great grandparents (254 ancestors).  Chromosome analysis is essential for this exercise because as we go back in time, there is also a much greater chance that we are genetically related to our matches in multiple ways.  These second relationships may well be back much further than we have researched for our own pedigrees or our matches.  Due to the process of recombination past 3rd cousins, we don't always share DNA with all our genealogical cousins.  This does not mean our tree is incorrect, it may just be that the DNA from that ancestor has not survived.  However, in some circumstances our genealogical research may be correct according to the records but there is a genetic mismatch, where DNA reveals the parents may be someone completely different!  Telltale clues for these cases are often that you have no matches on those lines.

I regularly take time to document my progress and monitor my results and this helps me to focus on priority areas.  My progress for my own genealogy can be found on this page.

Before embarking on the resource intensive process of verifying your pedigree past 2nd great grandparents with chromosome analysis make sure you have:
  • identified all your ancestors out to at least the 2nd great grandparent level;
  • identified DNA cousin matches up to 3rd cousins that confirm that your 2nd great grandparents (P1-8 and M1-8) are also your genetic ancestors.  These relationships can be confirmed provided you and your match share the appropriate cMs for the predicted relationship.  Ideally, as many as possible of these close matches should have their results on a chromosome analysis site to enable you to build on these confirmed relationships and 'walk back the segments' to more distant ancestors using GDAT;
  • used your DNA results to identify any unknown ancestors closer than 2nd great grandparents using the total cMs approach, if traditional research techniques have previously been unsuccessful;
  • identified DNA matches for all your lines, with shared ancestors back to each of the 8 sets of ancestral couples at the 2nd great grandparent level.  If not, reconsider whether the ancestors you have identified are actually the right ones?  This will not always be the case, there are many reasons why you might have no matches, but more often than not it may be an indicator that either your research is wrong or the parent of your ancestor may be someone completely different;
  • extended your pedigree out as far as you can - the more complete your tree the greater your chance of success in finding connections with your DNA matches!



Relevant Workspaces and Tools

As you work with the genealogical tools you will be predominately working in the following three GDAT workspaces, accessible from the main menu.  

  1. Relative - views relevant to your DNA matches;
  2. Profile - views relevant to people whose DNA you are monitoring;
  3. MRCA - tools to assist your research.

The function keys in GDAT are very useful for navigation within the database.  The most useful functions for genealogical analysis are:

  • F2 - Relative Ahnentafels.  To maximise your productivity, it is best to load pedigree information for your matches via a 'bulk import' from a third party tool as DNAGedcom.  The F2 function provides the ability to add pedigrees manually via GEDcom import, Pedigree Thief and One2Tree (Windows only), plus you can also update details on existing ahnentafels already loaded to GDAT.   Don't forget you can also upload GEDcoms extracted from your own family history program if you have researched your relatives ancestry, or just fill in the blank page!



  • F3 - Family comparisons.  This screen compares genealogical information between the profile and matches, identifying any common surnames.  Highlighting the surname gives more information about your ancestor, so you can compare them to your matches ancestor list.  If no surnames show for your match but they have an ancestor list, go back to the F2 screen, choose Update, then 'set relative lists to Ahnentafel values' and the missing surnames should populate.




  • F5 - Merging.  There are two main pathways I use for merging duplicate profiles.  If you identify them in the F7 chromosome browser, highlighting the matches then right clicking will lead you to the F5 page.  Or you can access the same F5 page via the Relative Menu.  To complete the merge you need to remember to have the relative information you want to keep on the right.  Tick boxes on the left if you want to retain that information.  Things to keep an eye out for when deciding which relative to choose are - where Ahnentafel value = true, segments or status of MRCA are already assigned or if there are research notes.  Always back up before a merge, so you can revert the database if the merge does not behave how you expected.  In the case of duplicates, select the 'same person' radio button, then merge.  There is also an option to select 'other' - this option can be used for combining relative records for closely related relatives.  Check the user guide for more information.



  • F7 - Analysis Tools.  When reviewing matches in the F7 chromosome browser, highlighting the matches then right clicking will bring up a menu.  The compare ahnentafel groups option will identify any shared ancestror couple names between the highlighted matches.  Similarly, the compare ahnentafel surnames will identify any shared surnames within the match group.  This can assist in finding possible connections between your matches.



The MCRA menu has some great genealogical tools that enable you interrogate the database in different ways and can be very useful in finding more genealogical connections.

  • Segment MRCA's - This tool identifies matches whose status has been set to MRCA and lists them under the name of the MRCA group allocated to individual segments.  It provides a good summary of each of the 'family group' names you have listed in the profile ancestor list (F6) and all your confirmed matches;
  • Groups associated with MRCA's -This tool aims to find you more possible connections to your MRCA.  For each of your family groups, it lists the group names of your identified and confirmed relatives back to the shared ancestors.  Often these can be names little known to you.  Investigating matches with these surnames in their trees can often lead to other descendants from these same ancestor groups.  Because the group name is the same however, it does not always mean they are the same people, you need to do the research to confirm or reject them.   
  • ICW profile group - This tool lists relatives who have the same group names in their tree as the profile person, but have not yet been given the status of MRCA.  These require investigation and can lead to identifying more shared ancestors.  Whilst many of those with common names or listed as Unknown or MNU can be misleading, if you regularly use the MRCA notes field, the process can often bring to light other matches you may have previously investigated that should be revisited.
  • Region clusters - This tool lists places names in common with the profile and their matches.  Group name formatting needs to be consistent so not all your places will be listed if your match describes the place name differently.  Can be useful for identifying matches from particular localities of interest.

There are Ahnentafel Routines under the Preferences menu that can be run to assign group names and locations to maximise the effectiveness of these tools.  Some are quite resource intensive - refer to the user guide for more information.

The GDAT database won't find every connection, at times you will need to do research on your matches trees to find your shared ancestors.  Remember to add new surnames and additional pedigree information to your relatives pages to maximise the effectiveness of the genealogical tools. 


To get help:

* Make sure you first consult the extensive GDAT User Guide;

* Join the Facebook Group for GDAT and search the site to see if the question has been asked before.  If not, ask the question there;

* SAG members can join the 'private' SAG GDAT User Group on Facebook for general collaboration between members.


Remember, as you work with the software:

* Back up regularly (under File);

* Use the available Help resources (under Help);

* If imports or views aren't behaving as you would expect, you probably need to adjust some of the defaults (under Preferences)

* Keep notes, one of the great features of GDAT is being able to easily pick up where you left off last time!


Finally....

GDAT is a complicated product, understanding how to use the product will take time and if you don't understand the principles of chromosome analysis then you will struggle mastering it.  

Follow the 'Research Methodology' and make sure you have a solid 'DNA confirmed' base for your pedigree before you attempt to extend your confirmations past 2nd great grandparents using chromosome analysis.  Genealogical and genetic research go hand in hand, just as we move from the known to the unknown using our traditional paper research methodology, the same applies with genetic research where we need to 'walk back the segment' over time.

If like me, you are looking to confirm your pedigree out to at least your 5th great grandparents then you will amass a great deal of genetic and genealogical data along the way.  I started my genetic journey in 2010 and it's easy to forget some of that early research.  I like to think of GDAT as my 'one stop shop', an easy way to manage all the data and minimise the amount of duplicated research.  What I like most of all is being easily able to pick up where I left off if I haven't looked at a particular part of the family for a period of time.  No research is wasted or lost and continues to build as more clues emerge, after all if you are into DNA chromosome analysis then you are in it for the long haul.

Thanks Becky Walker for providing this fabulous tool!


Veronica Williams
GDAT Group Convenor
2nd December 2022



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Tuesday, October 19, 2021

DNA Research Framework 3 - Combining genetic and genealogical research

  There are five parts to the DNA Research Framework:

  1. Understand DNA Basics
  2. Know what you are working with
  3. Combine genetic and genealogical research
  4. Use genetic research to prove and expand your pedigree
  5. Continuous review

Within the framework we apply a DNA research methodology to ensure we systematically and methodically review our results, to improve our productivity and success rates.

The following blog posts provide more detailed information about the DNA Research framework, applying the DNA Research Methodology and building your DNA analysis skills:

This post contains reference material relevant to Module 3 
The ISOGG site also has a lot of useful material refer - ISOGG Beginners' guides to genetic genealogy.  You can find material relevant to earlier modules here:

Combining genetic and genealogical research - Total cMs, the broad approach
This module covers techniques and tools to help you combine your genetic and traditional genealogy research, using your genetic data as the starting point for more targeted research.

Make sure you have maximised your findings from your AncestryDNA and have attempted to identify all your closest matches up to 3rd cousins at all DNA sites.  You should have also applied the AncestryDNA grouping process or Leeds method to identify likely match groups out to your 16 x 2nd great grandparents (where possible).  

Ideally, you want to be fairly certain that your closest matches support your pedigree out to your 2GGP's. When working with your DNA matches you need to ensure you are working from a solid base and that the pedigree you have researched, is in fact your true genetic ancestral line too.  If you have no matches on some of these lines and/or a group of unknown matches sharing large amounts of DNA with you, you may need to question whether your documented pedigree is accurate. 

The concepts associated with developing research trees from this information have been extensively covered in the AncestryDNA course and will not be covered in depth in this module.  Refer to Mossie's Musings for more information.

Recap on the key concepts from Modules 1 and 2:


Combining genetic and genealogical research - Chromosome analysis
To confirm your pedigree beyond 3rd cousins or where there is no documented paper trail  (with the exception of parent/child and sibling relationships) you need to undertake chromosome analysis, using segment data.

As a matter of course, it is recommended that any close matches at AncestryDNA who are not on any chromosome site should be approached and encouraged to upload their results to either GEDmatch, My Heritage, FamilyTreeDNA and LivingDNA (preferably all), all are free.  The following blog post can be a good one to send to your matches. I usually offer to help them interpret the results once they upload, but this depends on how critical the match is for my analysis.

In chromosome analysis our guiding principles are to:
  • Start with genetic evidence (such as known ancestral or triangulated segments and groups);
  • Limit our research to matches in that specific group for each segment area to identify the shared ancestor (increase productivity, don't go down rabbit holes based on common names etc with matches that don't triangulate);
  • Inform our research by 'clues' (such as shared matches, cross platform comparisons, cluster tools);
  • Understand patterns emerging from each triangulated group on specific ancestral lines;
  • Use each specific segment group to inform our knowledge of our genome and pedigree, pushing back segments to more distant ancestors by 'walking back the chromosome' (Module 4).

The general chromosome analysis process is:
  • Firstly, identify 'triangulated segments' on a particular chromosome of interest (between 3 matches) using 'segment triangulation' techniques (Modules 1 and 2).  Remember, by ensuring the segment triangulates with others it is validating the segment, making sure the match is 'real';
  • Next, seek to identify more people who triangulate on the same chromosome in the same segment area (between 4 or more matches), forming 'triangulated groups' (Module 2);
  • The matches in triangulated groups have all inherited a common segment of DNA, so it is 'evidence' that they all share a 'common ancestor';
  • Look for the pedigrees of your matches and try to identify what's common between those in the triangulated group, it could be names, locations, ethnicity etc.  Use that knowledge to research and identify possible common ancestors between you and your DNA match using 'tree triangulation';
  • If only limited information is provided by the match, try searching for their ancestors in other public trees. 'One World Trees' such as Wikitree, Family Search and Geni allow you to easily search for connections if your tree is already published there or search on Ancestry or My Heritage as they have the largest repositories of family trees;
  • If needed, 'develop research trees' to expand the genealogy of your matches to find the common ancestor (AncestryDNA course);
  • Once you have identified and confirmed a common ancestor for at least 3 descendants (not closely related) in the triangulated group, you can mark the segments for the others in the group to a particular ancestral line or ancestral couple.  NOTE: Other members of the group may connect via different ancestors in the line of descent, but will be connected either via a descendant or ancestor of the shared ancestors you identified for the initial 3 matches;
  • Whilst strict triangulation can only be achieved by looking at matches on the same DNA site, make sure you compare matches in the 'identical segment locations' on all DNA sites for 'bridge matches' (matches at multiple sites) as these can be additional 'clues';
  • Create a chromosome map of confirmed segments for future analysis - DNA Painter is ideal (refer to Activity 3 exercise below).  This is covered in more detail in Module 4 .  
  • Remember, to confirm the segment as belonging to a particular ancestor, you must ensure that all matches share an identical AND overlapping segment, i.e. a 'triangulated segment' that is 'identical by descent'.  There also needs to be sufficient genealogical distance between the matches in the group to demonstrate how the segment was passed down (i.e. not just close matches such as parent/child/siblings).  This is covered in more detail in Module 4.
NOTE:  Particular care needs to be taken when dealing with endogamous communities and where there is pedigree collapse as there may be more than one shared common ancestor.  

These posts from Module 2 may be good to review:


How to decide where to start

Where you start will depend on your genealogical goals.  In my own genealogy, I am interested in confirming my pedigree back to my 5th great grandparents (6th cousin level, 254 ancestors).  I want to ensure I have the right ancestors in my tree and autosomal DNA is generally considered able to identify segments of DNA back to 5th cousins.  I find the predictions are often one generation out, hence working to 6th cousins!  I also have a couple of problematic 2nd great grandfathers.  Different strategies are needed for both.

The following suggestions are made to give you ideas about how or where to begin.  It doesn't really matter where you start, every analysis will help to identify the origins of your DNA segments.  As long as you record your findings for each segment, the historical information will help you expand your research and pedigree over time.  Chromosome Analysis is a long term endeavour - you may not find anything today but each match in the future will add more clues relating to that segment and help identify your shared ancestors.  Every small segment you identify, can lead you to more discoveries and it can be a snowball effect.

  • Do you already have 3rd cousin or closer matches where you have identified your MRCA?  Do 'one on ones' to find the segments they match on and mark those segments to the appropriate side, maternal, paternal or both (close relations, children, siblings), noting the shared ancestor or ancestral couple.
  • Matches of interest?  Do 'one on ones' for find the segments they match on, then interrogate those segment areas for likely triangulated groups who will share a 'common ancestor'.  This is the best place to start for those large unknown matches.
  • Interested in an ancestor of specific ethic origins?  Identify the ethnic origins of your ancestors using chromosome maps available at FTDNA or 23andMe and Admixture reports at GEDMatch.  Whilst not very useful for those of us with predominantly the same ethnicity, people with a specific ancestor of a very different ethnicity such as Asian, African etc often find these maps show the specific segments they inherited from that ancestor.  AncestryDNA has recently introduced its Sideview™technology, however care should be taken when using the chromosome painter ethnicity data.  It is still in BETA and from my observations the ethnicity predictions are not reliable. However, Sideview™technology for allocating parental sides is proving to be remarkably accurate.


Use match information to expand your research

Don't be satisfied by just identifying the shared ancestor between you and your matches, use the information to identify more matches, discard false positive matches and expand your pedigree.
  • Known 3rd cousins or closer?  Interrogate the segment areas for these matches - everyone who also matches you and this match on the same segment will form a triangulated group and you already know your closest shared 'common ancestor'!   Do more research, aim to push 'EACH triangulated segment' back a further generation by continually reviewing the group to find more common ancestors.
  • Known maternal/paternal segments?  Remember there are two sides to every chromosome.  Once you have identified any match on a specific side, provided that 'segment area' is triangulated you can use that information to determine the other side of the chromosome.
  • Know one parent but not the other? Don't despair if you are looking for your father but can only identify matches on your mothers side.  Use known maternal matches to identify maternal segment areas, then look at all your matches on the reverse side of the chromosome, who don't match your maternal cousin.  These are most likely paternal matches, or false positives.  
  • Have three siblings tested?  Visual Phasing is a process that can be applied to the results of 3 siblings to determine what segments each inherited from their 4 grandparents.  This is an advanced technique but can be very useful for researching more distant ancestors (we will touch on this technique in Module 4).


Doing the genealogy....

No matter which way you approach DNA research, whether you stick with the broad approach or get into chromosome analysis techniques you can't escape having to do lots of traditional genealogy to bring paper trails and genetic evidence into alignment.  Both your tree and the trees of your DNA matches probably need work and don't go back far enough to find the common ancestor.  Follow these key steps:
  • Build your pedigree out as much as possible for all known lines, ideally at least to 3rd great grandparent level, preferably more ie 5th great grandparents (Module 1);
  • Ensure tree completeness, working from the base, aim to achieve as close to 100% at each level with 'paper' evidence for your pedigree (Module1);
  • Work with your closest DNA matches first to ensure that they are supporting your known pedigree out to 2nd Great Grandparents, if possible (Module 2);  
  • If you have no matches on some of these lines, and/or a group unknown matches sharing large amounts of DNA with you, you may need to question whether your documented pedigree is accurate, review your assumptions (Module 2);
  • Continually review and expand your known pedigree and tree completeness based on information your DNA analysis is telling you (Module 3);
  • Review pedigree information provided by the match or found by searching one of their ancestors on other pedigree sites and use it to try and identify your MRCA, particularly for all 3rd cousin and closer matches.  This is essential if you wish to be successful in chromosome analysis where we are often dealing with much smaller segment matches and more distant common ancestors (Module 3);
  • Develop research trees for your matches to help connect your two lines, common names, locations etc (AncestryDNA course);
  • Working from the base, aim to achieve DNA confirmations as close to 100% at each generation level so you know you are continuing to work from a solid base (Module 1).   This will help you 'walk back the chromosome' and build reliable chromosome maps for your autosomal DNA (Module 4);
  • Don't forget for more distant ancestors utilising Y-DNA or mtDNA analysis may be a more effective way to confirm ancestry along your patrilineal and matrilineal lines.  Given the additional costs for these tests, they may be better utilised to confirm a hypothesis rather than used as a fishing expedition, particularly if you recruiting others to test for you.





Suggested resources:


Word of caution

* Remember segment matches of 20-30cMs and below can end up being many, many generations back.  You may not always find your common ancestor even when researching back multiple generations.

* Amassing clues from multiple triangulated groups may help you solve the puzzle over time.  For most people this a long term research exercise - and not for the fainthearted!


Suggested activities

The following two activities are aimed to help you apply 'Module 3' in practice:
* Cross Platform Exercise: and 



Veronica Williams
Originally posted: 19 October 2021
Last updated: 6 September 2024











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Sunday, October 17, 2021

FTM and DNA: Keeping track in your tree: Part 1 - Images

I like to do all my DNA research in my Family Tree Maker tree (FTM) and then sync to Ancestry.  This tree has become very large as I add potential lines of enquiry for DNA matches I have not yet linked to my own tree.  This series of posts is aimed at methods I employ to keep my DNA research organised and to help make me more productive when navigating my ever growing tree.  They are presented for use in FTM but can be utilised for all family history programmes.  There will be in 3 parts.

My confirmed pedigree is published to Wikitree, a free genealogical site that everyone can access, it provides many links you can send to your DNA matches from your tree.  The advantage of using these is that as it is a 'One World Tree' other researchers are continually adding to your branches and may just link up your match, without you needing to do anything!  You can view examples of my pedigree and other resources they provide by accessing these links:-

  • Standard pedigree - out to 2nd great grandparents, with images and embeddable links for further branches of ancestors or descendants.  Below the pedigree there are many more options for viewing the pedigree and ancestor lists, scroll to the bottom of the page to access them;
  • Compact pedigree - out to 5th great grandparents (254 ancestors - 6th cousin level).  Ideal to send to your DNA matches.

Images 

I have developed a range of images that I add to people in my tree, mostly for more distant ancestors or those not related to me.  For recent family, like most people I enjoy seeing an actual photo of them where they exist.  I find that these research images on other profiles helps me quickly remember why they are in my tree and their significance for what I am researching on any particular day.  I also use filters for this purpose (some of which are included in the following table). How I use these will be covered in Part 2.

Have some fun and develop your own images, or feel free to copy these for your own use.


Untitled Document

Image When used Filters DNA Citations
DNA Tester: DNA Matches of my family. Also used for ‘cousins, including distant cousins’ who we know have taken DNA tests, even if they don’t match my immediate family. DNA Status; DNA Testers; DNA Markers DNA Match; or DNA Contact
DNA Tentative: Connections identified between DNA testers >3rd cousins at AncestryDNA or not yet triangulated at chromosome analysis sites.; DNA Status; DNA Tentative - Ancestor or Couple DNA Tentative
DNA Confirmed (my direct line): Connections identified between me and my direct line ancestors when matches are 3rd cousins or closer at AncestryDNA or triangulated at chromosome analysis sites. DNA Status; DNA Confirmed - Ancestor or Couple DNA Confirmed: either ’Match 3C or closer’ or ‘Triangulated Group’.
DNA Confirmed (connections between others): Connections identified between matches and my direct line ancestors when matches are 3rd cousins or closer at AncestryDNA or triangulated at chromosome analysis sites. Also used for other identified sub groups, not on my direct line. DNA Status; DNA Confirmed - Ancestor or Couple DNA Confirmed: either ’Match 3C or closer’ or ‘Triangulated Group’.
Ancestor of a DNA Match: Used when starting research on a person of interest from a DNA match pedigree, when match is not in my tree. Unconnected to the main tree (hanging branch). Research Tree N/A
People identified as potential shared ancestors from researching a Triangulated Group or shared Match Cluster. Usually unconnected to the main tree (hanging branch). Research Tree DNA Cluster
People identified as connections between potential shared ancestors within a Triangulated Group or shared Match Cluster. Usually unconnected to the main tree (hanging branch). Research Tree DNA Cluster
Ancestors of matches identified as possible connections on the X inheritance path. Usually unconnected to the main tree (hanging branch). Research Tree N/A
Y-DNA Patrilineal line: Added to the male ancestral line of the Y-DNA tester and down the line to any confirmed matches via Y_DNA testing. DNA Status; DNA Confirmed DNA Confirmed: Y-DNA
mt-DNA Matrilineal line: Added to the female ancestral line of the mt-DNA tested and down the line to any confirmed matches via mt_DNA full sequence tests. DNA Status; DNA Confirmed DNA Confirmed: mt-DNA



Pedigree of Abigail Courtney 1871-1928

The following image shows how the pedigree of Abigail, my 2nd great grandmother, looks in my tree both in Family Tree Maker and synced to Ancestry.  You can easily identify which ancestors are DNA confirmed, only have tentative matches or no matches at all.







Potential shared ancestors and DNA matches

This final image shows how a shared ancestral couple from cluster research appears in my tree  in Family Tree Maker and synced to Ancestry.  You can easily see how DNA matches are connected to the shared ancestors, this can be helpful in considering potential lines of enquiry in your research.  In this case, whilst I might want the match to be on my Courtney line,  you can quickly see that it could be either Courtney, or O'Brien.




At times when analysing DNA match groups it will also be necessary to create similar trees in DNA Painter (WATO).  Utilising the features in FTM can save you time and provides a quick reminder of your analysis to date without needing to constantly create WATO trees for all your match groups.


Veronica Williams
17 October 2021
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