Starting your dna journey
A NOTE TO ADOPTEES:
Please make sure you have applied for all the information you are entitled to through the province where you were born. Many provinces have open records or semi-open records. They either provide your original birth certificate or your non-identifying information or both. Check each provinces laws on our Adoption Disclosure Laws page under the Resources tab above or click on Adoption Disclosure Laws.
Please make sure you have applied for all the information you are entitled to through the province where you were born. Many provinces have open records or semi-open records. They either provide your original birth certificate or your non-identifying information or both. Check each provinces laws on our Adoption Disclosure Laws page under the Resources tab above or click on Adoption Disclosure Laws.
DNA Testing Companies
The Big 3... and now 4:
Ancestry DNA: The largest database by far. Close to 10 million DNA tests in their database. Has great records, family trees and lets you contact matches.
23andme:
FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA):
MyHeritage DNA: Up and coming that has come a long way in the last year in improving their algorithms.
Where to Test & The Best Bang for your Buck
It is strongly recommended that you first start with Ancestry DNA. This is because Ancestry has, by far the largest database AND you can upload your results from you Ancestry test to the other 2 key DNA companies FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) and MyHeritage for free. You can also upload your results from Ancestry to Gedmatch.
This is not only the most logical way to test, it is also the cheapest route since you only have to pay for Ancestry, which often goes on sale, but you can upload for free to the others.
Recommended DNA Testing Path:
Ancestry DNA
Then transfer to FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage and Gedmatch
If you still need more matches or medical information, definitely consider testing at 23andme.
Once You Test
It can take up to 10 weeks after you send in your sample to get your results. If you are on Ancestry, this would be the time to build your family tree (IF you know one side of it). If you don't have any information about your history, please visit the adoption disclosure by province link below, and request any all information that you are entitled to in the province where you were born. See: Adoption Disclosure Laws by province.
If you are an adoptee with no information about either parent, try to be patient as you await your results. We know it's difficult but remember this is an exciting but very emotional journey with many ups and downs along the way.
Either way, please read, watch, and learn as much about DNA as you can. You will soon learn what can be done with DNA during the time you are waiting for results. This will be invaluable.
Joining a group such as Facebook's DNA Detectives, run by genetic genealogist, Cece Moore is a fantastic way to gain some insight into how cases are solved and how your search will be proceeding in the coming months.
You should also look at these resources:
ISOGG: International Society of Genetic Genealogists - DNA Testing for Adoptees
The Legal Genealogist: Fish in All Ponds: DNA Testing for Adoptees
I got my results, now what?
Take a deep breath...
At this time, it is NOT advised to contact any of your matches. You will first want to find out how close your relationship to your match is. On Ancestry, you will see how much DNA a match shares with you. The information will appear under each match, like this: "Shared DNA: 261 cM across 14 segments." You can also see the same information on every match's profile page, as below.
The Big 3... and now 4:
Ancestry DNA: The largest database by far. Close to 10 million DNA tests in their database. Has great records, family trees and lets you contact matches.
23andme:
FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA):
MyHeritage DNA: Up and coming that has come a long way in the last year in improving their algorithms.
Where to Test & The Best Bang for your Buck
It is strongly recommended that you first start with Ancestry DNA. This is because Ancestry has, by far the largest database AND you can upload your results from you Ancestry test to the other 2 key DNA companies FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) and MyHeritage for free. You can also upload your results from Ancestry to Gedmatch.
This is not only the most logical way to test, it is also the cheapest route since you only have to pay for Ancestry, which often goes on sale, but you can upload for free to the others.
Recommended DNA Testing Path:
Ancestry DNA
Then transfer to FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage and Gedmatch
If you still need more matches or medical information, definitely consider testing at 23andme.
Once You Test
It can take up to 10 weeks after you send in your sample to get your results. If you are on Ancestry, this would be the time to build your family tree (IF you know one side of it). If you don't have any information about your history, please visit the adoption disclosure by province link below, and request any all information that you are entitled to in the province where you were born. See: Adoption Disclosure Laws by province.
If you are an adoptee with no information about either parent, try to be patient as you await your results. We know it's difficult but remember this is an exciting but very emotional journey with many ups and downs along the way.
Either way, please read, watch, and learn as much about DNA as you can. You will soon learn what can be done with DNA during the time you are waiting for results. This will be invaluable.
Joining a group such as Facebook's DNA Detectives, run by genetic genealogist, Cece Moore is a fantastic way to gain some insight into how cases are solved and how your search will be proceeding in the coming months.
You should also look at these resources:
ISOGG: International Society of Genetic Genealogists - DNA Testing for Adoptees
The Legal Genealogist: Fish in All Ponds: DNA Testing for Adoptees
I got my results, now what?
Take a deep breath...
At this time, it is NOT advised to contact any of your matches. You will first want to find out how close your relationship to your match is. On Ancestry, you will see how much DNA a match shares with you. The information will appear under each match, like this: "Shared DNA: 261 cM across 14 segments." You can also see the same information on every match's profile page, as below.
Once you know a bit about how many cms (centimorgans) you share with your matches, you can start to figure out what possible relationships you share with them. Please see the green chart or the shared cm tool below to get an idea of how you are related to your matches.
A note on close matches
Do NOT immediately contact your close matches. Please copy and screenshot all of the information about them, their names, profile info, any tree information they may be sharing, any ancestoral surnames, locations, and the number of cms you share. Also, take note of their shared matches in the shared matches tab. Search angels from one of our adoption and DNA search groups will be able to help you find relatives and build a DNA "mirror" tree, if it is needed.
Seeing if a match has a tree that is NOT attached to their DNA
Many testers do not attach their DNA to their trees. This doesn't necessarily mean they don't have a tree on their profile. If they have an unlinked tree, simply click on their name or initials on the main DNA match page, and see if at the bottom it states "select tree to preview" in the drop down (see above example picture for John Smith).
Shared matches
Shared matches will help you because they may have family trees if your closer matches do not. They will also show you that some of your matches tend to be on one side of your family, while others are on a different side, and that are not related to one another. This will help you separate your maternal vs. paternal matches.
Copying Information or Screenshots
If you have a very close match, please make sure you copy or screenshot the match, how many cms you share, and all of their tree information. Then screenshot the shared matches. This is key in case they see the match and then decide to hide their tree or hide their DNA test from view. A close match will appear as a parent/child match, immediate family, close family, or 1st cousin match. If a match like this is unexpected, some people don't know how to deal with the shocking information and may need time to process it. However, if you screenshot all of this information, you will at least have the answer to who your natural family is. With this data, you can find out names of your close family members.
A note on close matches
Do NOT immediately contact your close matches. Please copy and screenshot all of the information about them, their names, profile info, any tree information they may be sharing, any ancestoral surnames, locations, and the number of cms you share. Also, take note of their shared matches in the shared matches tab. Search angels from one of our adoption and DNA search groups will be able to help you find relatives and build a DNA "mirror" tree, if it is needed.
Seeing if a match has a tree that is NOT attached to their DNA
Many testers do not attach their DNA to their trees. This doesn't necessarily mean they don't have a tree on their profile. If they have an unlinked tree, simply click on their name or initials on the main DNA match page, and see if at the bottom it states "select tree to preview" in the drop down (see above example picture for John Smith).
Shared matches
Shared matches will help you because they may have family trees if your closer matches do not. They will also show you that some of your matches tend to be on one side of your family, while others are on a different side, and that are not related to one another. This will help you separate your maternal vs. paternal matches.
Copying Information or Screenshots
If you have a very close match, please make sure you copy or screenshot the match, how many cms you share, and all of their tree information. Then screenshot the shared matches. This is key in case they see the match and then decide to hide their tree or hide their DNA test from view. A close match will appear as a parent/child match, immediate family, close family, or 1st cousin match. If a match like this is unexpected, some people don't know how to deal with the shocking information and may need time to process it. However, if you screenshot all of this information, you will at least have the answer to who your natural family is. With this data, you can find out names of your close family members.
DNA RELationship charts
Chart - Source: DNA Detectives
DNA PAINTER RELATIONSHIP TOOL:
There is also an interactive DNA Chart: The Shared CM Project: DNA PAINTER TOOL
https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcm
There is also an interactive DNA Chart: The Shared CM Project: DNA PAINTER TOOL
https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcm
Ancestry dna: with & without a subscription
A subscription is not necessary but can be helpful. If you do not have an Ancestry subscription, a DNA Search Angel in one of our Canadian search groups may be able to help you get records on Ancestry.
Transferring your dna to other free databases
From Ancestry, you can download your raw DNA file and upload it to FamilyTreeDNA, Myheritage, and Gedmatch.
This will give you matches that you won't have at Ancestry.
To download your DNA matches, please see Ancestry support's page on downloading your raw DNA data. When you download it to your computer, please do not open the file. Some computers automatically open zip files, so you will need to change this setting if this is the case.
1. First you will have to Download your raw DNA file from Ancestry
2. Setting up your account at MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) and gedmatch.
a) Go to: MyHeritage.com and set up an account or login to your existing account if you already have one there. THIS OPTION WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE AS OF DEC. 1, 2018!
b) Go to the Autosomal Transfer area of the Family Tree DNA website and sign up to FTDNA.
c). Go to Gedmatch.com and sign up.
Follow the upload steps at each company to upload your Ancestry zip file from your computer. If you need any help, please contact your search angel or contact us at dnagifting [at] gmail (dot) com
This will give you matches that you won't have at Ancestry.
To download your DNA matches, please see Ancestry support's page on downloading your raw DNA data. When you download it to your computer, please do not open the file. Some computers automatically open zip files, so you will need to change this setting if this is the case.
1. First you will have to Download your raw DNA file from Ancestry
2. Setting up your account at MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) and gedmatch.
a) Go to: MyHeritage.com and set up an account or login to your existing account if you already have one there. THIS OPTION WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE AS OF DEC. 1, 2018!
b) Go to the Autosomal Transfer area of the Family Tree DNA website and sign up to FTDNA.
c). Go to Gedmatch.com and sign up.
Follow the upload steps at each company to upload your Ancestry zip file from your computer. If you need any help, please contact your search angel or contact us at dnagifting [at] gmail (dot) com
