Approaching and Connecting with Your DNA Matches

Transcription

1 Approaching and Connecting with Your DNA Matches Shannon Stewart Christmas, MCP Understand DNA Tests The four types of DNA and the relevant test companies Segment triangulation is the key to genealogical discovery for autosomal DNA Non-matching haplogroups do not disqualify a match on 23andMe LEARN & DISCUSS GENETICS CONCEPTS AND THE MECHANICS OF TRIANGULATION WITH GREATER DEPTH ON FACEBOOK AND THE BLOGOSPHERE The African Descendant s Genetic Genealogy Group ( GEDMatch.com User Group ( AncestryDNA Publick House Group ( Understanding the DNA Test Consumer DNA testers come from all walks of life, every corner of the world Experience, comprehension, knowledge, and motivation will vary Computer literacy and technology accessibility is not as widespread as we may think No one owes their matches anything; avoid exuding an entitled attitude Paranoia and hysteria about genetic testing and privacy pervade our universe Empathize: seek mutual comfort and understanding The following recommendations come from the perspective of a seasoned researcher seeking to identify the most recent common ancestors who passed on the shared DNA First line of communication across all sites: Onsite Profile Page -Create and attach as complete and detailed a family tree/pedigree chart as possible. -Provide an engaging, but brief summary of your known family history -List surnames and ancestral locations

2 -Include your address -Include statement of purpose -GEDMATCH: Include your address. Ensure your username is consistent with that used on all of the commercial sites. DON T USE YOUR MATCHES LACK OF MATCHING SURNAMES/ANCESTORS IN THEIR PROFILE AS A REASON TO DISMISS THEM DON T ATTACH A PRIVATE TREE TO YOUR DNA PROFILE Introductory Correspondence Draft a clear, concise introductory letter that Communicates your purpose for contacting the match Tells them what you want to learn and why (AncestryDNA) Gets your matches to upload to GEDMatch (23andMe) Gets your matches to compare genomes. (Family Finder) Gets your matches to compare family trees if they have not already The second message orients the reader Explain what you have already determined thus far from a comparative analysis of the genetic data and pedigree charts Use 23andMe s Family Inheritance: Advanced to compare genomes Use Family Finder s chromosome browser and in common with tools to hypothesize about triangulated groups Use AncestryDNA s Shared Matches tool and parental filters to hypothesize about the source of the shared DNA. Inform the match what side of your family they are on Encourage collaborating with common matches to facilitate triangulation Request an exchange of family trees if the match has yet to provide one DON T SEND A SURNAME LIST DON T SEND A LENGTHY ABOUT ONE ANCESTOR

3 (23ANDME) DON T REQUEST ACCESS TO YOUR MATCHES HEALTH REPORTS WITHOUT DISCUSSING YOUR INTENTIONS. When your match does not respond, bypass unreliable internal messaging systems If the match has their portrait attached to their AncestryDNA, 23andMe, or Family Tree DNA profile, right-click the picture and select Search Google for this image from the popover menu. This may produce search results that include contact details such as the person s social media accounts, addresses, etc. Use that information to contact the match. You must have the Google Chrome browser to employ this technique. Google your match s alias/username; many customers have used their username elsewhere for Twitter, , etc., providing another means to contact them. Search for the match s close relatives on Ancestry using Ancestry s Public Member Tree search. Just enter the names, birth, marriage, and death dates of the match s grandparents in the search fields - if you were able to collect that data from a tree attached to the match s results - and you may find a close relative who can provide you with the match s contact information or relay your message to the match. If the match has a common ancestor in their Ancestry.com tree, go to that ancestor s overview page and add a comment on that page. In the comment, request that the match contact you, mention the DNA test, and include your address. DON T DELETE OR BLOCK NONRESPONSIVE MATCHES DON T DISABLE GENOME COMPARISON Engaging matches on social media requires a purpose-driven approach Create a Facebook group populated with your DNA matches and dedicated to finding your most recent common ancestor Schedule Google Hangouts or Twitter chats where members of triangulated groups can discuss shared ancestry DON T MAKE BECOMING A FACEBOOK FRIEND OR LINKEDIN CONNECTION THE HIGHEST PRIORITY DON T USE SOCIAL MEDIA AS A WAY TO SCREEN MATCHES

4 Correspond with focus Inform the match of anything you have already determined about how you are related Request information that can help clarify your relationship Explain simply how to compile and transmit the requested information Build and share an online family tree in your messages Ensure the content of each message addresses the question of your genealogical relationship Stay abreast of technological changes and adapt your correspondence accordingly 23andMe: Request that your matches on the new site opt into Open Sharing. Use group messaging feature for collaborating with triangulated groups GEDMatch: Reinforce the importance of having a public address AncestryDNA: Communicate the total amount of DNA shared and the significance of seeing the location of the shared DNA segments on GEDMatch. Develop an hypothesis from the Shared Matches tool. DNAGEDCOM: Download and communicate the biogeographical origin of shared DNA segments Understand what privacy is and isn t in genetic genealogy Do not request access to health reports without discussing the issue with the match Create and exchange an online family tree that maintains the privacy of living relatives Request consent from living relatives to share their photographs Explain what 23andMe s genome sharing really is and what it does View each match as an opportunity to build a genealogical proof Inform your match of the resources you have used for researching your connection Learn, use, and communicate (in simple terms) the genetics concepts employed for making connections Research and communicate the historical context of your common ancestry Conduct cluster genealogy to expand the vocabulary of and become fluent in your lingua familia Do not dismiss those who reach out to you; connecting with a 4 th or even 6 th cousin may prove easier than or helpful for connecting with a closer relative.

5 Provide small goods to build good will and a collaborative spirit Run a triangulation analysis for your match and send them a file containing the results Build your match s family tree and provide them with access to the family tree Offer to assist with uploading and downloading files, opening accounts, etc. Send photos of or documents about common ancestors