DNA Test Results and Genetic Genealogy

Best Free DNA and Genetic Genealogy Websites

You had your DNA tested, but now what’s next? Solve genealogy mysteries with these indispensable, free online tools to analyze your DNA test results.

3 Next Steps for Your DNA Test Results

4 Things to Do While Waiting for DNA Results

Don’t just twiddle your thumbs while waiting for your DNA results. Get ready to put them to use with these 4 tips.

DNA Q&A: How Reliable is the Information from DNA Tests?

DNA Q&A: My DNA Doesn’t Match Who I Thought I Was. Now What?

DNA results can sometimes reveal distressing truths about your family relationships—and even your identity. Here’s how to handle such situations.

DNA Q&A: 23andMe vs. FamilyTreeDNA mtDNA Results

Your mtDNA results can vary between companies. Learn what the differences mean and how they can tell you more about your ancestry.

DNA Test Migration Groups: What They Can and Can’t Tell You

AncestryDNA Communities, MyHeritage Genetic Groups, and 23andMe Recent Ancestor Locations all assign your DNA to a time and place. Are they accurate?

Understanding Your Autosomal DNA Ethnicity Results

DNA Q&A: All About Ethnicity Estimates

What can you do with ethnicity estimates? Which company has the best? Our DNA expert weighs in.

DNA Q&A: All About DNA Mapping

DNA mapping and ethnicity estimates are a big draw of home DNA test kits. Learn more about them here.

Organizing Your DNA Matches in 3 Steps

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with organizing DNA matches. Learn the best approach, plus three additional techniques for keeping track of all those cousins.

3 Steps for Prioritizing Which DNA Matches to Research First

It’s hard to know which of your hundreds of DNA matches are most important. Learn how to sort through them to find those most useful to your research.

Making Matches with Autosomal DNA

Tips for Triangulating Your DNA Matches

DNA Q&A: 6 Things to Do When Your DNA Match Doesn’t Have a Tree

Yes, you still can use your DNA matches even if there’s no tree or genealogy information attached. Here are six ways to make no-tree matches work for you.

DNA Q&A: Is It Possible My DNA Matches Aren’t Related?

If you’re struggling to understand the relationships between DNA matches, our expert is here to help!

DNA Q&A: How to Understand Missing or Unexpected Matches

DNA Q&A: Genealogical vs. Genetic Family Trees

DNA Q&A: Counting Chromosomes

DNA Q&A: Understanding Sibling DNA

DNA Q&A: How Are Adoptees Related to Their DNA Matches?

Transferring DNA Results from One Company to Another

Transferring your DNA results means you can take them from one company to another. Here’s why and how to take advantage of this research technique.

How and Why to Download Raw Data from AncestryDNA

Use your DNA for more-intense genealogy research (and take control of your data) by downloading your raw results from AncestryDNA.

How to Use AncestryDNA Shared Matches

AncestryDNA ThruLines Overview and Features

Check out the AncestryDNA Match experience and ThruLines, which proposes possible family relationships to your matches based on trees and DNA.

How to Use MyHeritage DNA Matching

MyHeritage DNA’s Theory of Family Relativity

MyHeritage Theory of Family Relativity uses DNA, trees and historical records to theorize how you’re related to your DNA matches. Here’s a closer look.