Clogdancer, DNA helper may not work for much longer, unless DNA helper come up with a solution. I haven't used it myself, so don't know what it entails, but the beta version currently being used for Ancestry matches clearly states that third party apps won't work with it when it is introduced fully, so get whatever you can quickly.
If you have only recently got your results back you may not realise what an improvement the new beta version is in many ways.
The segments inherited are usually a reflection of the closeness of the match, especially with higher numbers.
For example, I share 723 cMs over 32 segments with a known first cousin. Our grandparents might have passed down c 360 cMs each from 16 different segments (or one may have passed down more than the other one).
A known 2nd cousin shares 284 cMs over 11 segments, one known 3rd cousin shares 153/7. Another 3rd cousin shares only 17 cMs across a single segment.
So the amount inherited decreases with each generation.
But as DNA inheritance is random, the further down you go you may inherit only one segment from an ancestor, or two smaller ones, both of 20 cMs in total. Which, if either, is closer to you?
Up for debate, general consensus is that the 20/1 is closer than 10/2, but there will always be exceptions.
DNA inheritance is a random affair, after your parents. You inherit 50% from each parent and identical twins will also share 3400 cMs.
After that lots of variables come into play.
Refer to the ISOGG statistic and DNA painter links given in an earlier post. Work with your known matches. Get to know what is likely and what isn't.
In a month, or a year, or in 2 years time, you may find something to positively confirm what you think.
At one stage I thought that perhaps my great grandfather was not my great grandfather. Plenty of matches from his wife's family, none whatsoever from his. This was my maiden name, traced with confidence back to 17C Surrey.
Bit by bit the matches came in with ancestors from his line. Then my cousin got tested and I found different matches on that line as well.
It takes up a lot of my time, isn't easy, and there are no quick answers.
I hope some of the other regulars chip in as well, you've only got my feelings on the matter so far!
Regards Margaret
