What I did when I got my DNA results

[teach3r]

Hi everyone,

What a great thread!  I am a definite newbie to DNA testing but if it helps anyone else, this is what I have done so far since receiving a MyHeritage DNA kit for Christmas:

1.   MyHeritageDNA kit for Christmas

2.   Whilst waiting for kit results:
a.   Made sure that I kept developing my family tree
b.   Starting reading book tracing your ancestors using DNA: A guide for family historians (a bit heavy!)

3.   When kit results returned:
a.   Contacted top two on MyHeritage DNA matches
i.   Top one replied, quickly establishing the link between the first match and the second match on my matches list.
ii.   Established that most recent direct common direct ancestor were great great grandparents
iii.   Was able to add a few more names to my tree.

4.   After kit results returned:
a.   Downloaded raw results from MyHeritage
b.   Uploaded results to gedmatch
c.   Uploaded results to Family Tree DNA
d.   Uploaded results to DNA Painter

5.   Where next?
a.   Although I have uploaded to the sites in 4 above I still need to work out exactly how to get the best out of them (any and all advice welcome!)

Nic

[Craclyn]

Good start Nic. As you build your tree further on MyHeritage you will get additional clues through their Theory of Relativity. Updates to it are not very frequent though so you need to be patient for that one.
Just take it a step at a time learning how to use the other sites that you have uploaded to. You will find it takes more effort to work with some of them as they do not give the option of attaching trees so you get less information on each match. You might also want to consider testing at AncestryDNA who have by far the largest database for matching against.

[PixieAnna]

Thanks Martin - I'll do that! :-)

[Mowsehowse]

Mainly in response  to Nic @ reply 9..............
3.   When kit results returned:
a.   Contacted some top  MyHeritage DNA matches.
b.   Only one has replied; saying she has no idea how to work out what the relationship might be, but it was nice to meet me! 

4.   Uploaded results to Family Tree DNA:
a.   Contacted top match who has not replied.
b.   Contacted several others, 2 of whom replied but said they were unable to see my tree, and supplied no information.
c.   Got into settings .... Hope I have now made the tree public viewing.
d.    Found the Matrix (in family finder section).
e.   Spent the morning finding 10 matches who ALL match to each other, and several more  who match to 9 or 8 of that 10.
f.     Have sent personalised messages to the 4 who match to ALL of those at e.  Plan to send a generic message to the others, this afternoon, in the hope that someone does reply.
g.    Shall also upload data to Gedmatch.

Many thanks to all for advice on this and other threads.

[teach3r]

Good start Nic. As you build your tree further on MyHeritage you will get additional clues through their Theory of Relativity. Updates to it are not very frequent though so you need to be patient for that one.
Just take it a step at a time learning how to use the other sites that you have uploaded to. You will find it takes more effort to work with some of them as they do not give the option of attaching trees so you get less information on each match. You might also want to consider testing at AncestryDNA who have by far the largest database for matching against.

Thank you Craclyn,  nothing yet on MyHeritage's Theory of Relativity  although as you say, I'll be patient!).  This morning's task is to add my tree to those DNA sites that I can.  With regards to testing on Ancestry, that is on the to do list but thought I should try to understand what I can do with my DNA results first. Exciting (and confusing) times ahead!

Regards,

Nic

[Craclyn]

It seems to be several months between each run of the Theory of Relativity so if you have recently connected your result and tree you will not get anything until the next run.

[teach3r]

Gedcom now uploaded to Gedmatch, FTDNA and DNAPainter.
Focus is now on learning how to use these sites effectively!

[Mowsehowse]

So what happens when MyHeritage gives me 12 entirely correct "smart matches" from my father backwards, but refuses to allow contact with the manager of the tree, which incidentally, appears to have 210,000+ names on it!!   

(Or should I start a new topic?)