Family Lines DNA Introduction

Autosomal DNA analysis utilizes the DNA information in the 22 non sex chromosomes pairs (not X and Y chromosome). The major testing companies for this type of DNA testing are Ancestry, Family Tree Family Finder, 23 and Me, and My Heritage. Some companies also provide X chromosome data for analysis. These are inherited from both parents and allows one to try and identify a common ancestor connecting to anywhere in one’s family tree, unlike Y chromosome analysis which can only identify direct male ancestors from a male tester.  This is very valuable in that it opens up possibilities to find new ancestors anywhere in your tree.  It also causes problems because it allows you to make incorrect connections due to identifying the wrong ancestor in your tree or a match’s tree where a DNA segment was inherited from.

The goal of this new project is to give researchers information to perform better DNA analysis and to report validated findings from that analysis.  You should be able to determine if your specific Burgess ancestor has any other known autosomal testers and whether there is a contact that is coordinating research on that line.  You will be able to find whether there are any established DNA segments for that line and what testers have inherited that segment.  Finally, you will be able to read project reports to identify if there have been any discoveries about your common ancestor.

The GEDMATCH Burgess “Ancestors Project” will be the main source for the autosomal DNA data.  There are testing companies where you can also use data in their database to identify matching segments. This is also acceptable data and will just need to be documented.  As we progress on this effort, we may try to collect known descendant names that have DNA tested but don’t have GEDMATCH kits. But first we need to see How it Works.