G2G: Why upload my DNA analysis?

Question

What is the value of uploading DNA data for an individual who has no profile or is private?  I agree with the reasons for making a profile private, but for the exact same reasons, I don't even want to create a profile for myself or my parents and grandparents.  If I were to create them, they would be private, so how could my DNA data help anyone?  It came from Ancestry, and Ancestry is showing me all kind of things that ought to be private—which makes me suspect they are violating my privacy as well.

Answer 1

Even if you enter the info but keep your profile private, your parents and your grandparents private, eventually that profile will open up once they have been deceased for 150 years. At that point in the future, your descendants will benefit from the test that you took, because you will have a documented record showing a particular haplogroup or SNP and if the site you tested on is still around, they will have the matches within that test to review.

Obviously we would prefer that you feel comfortable enough to share that we could all benefit from your generous test-taking, but even if you need to keep it private, it will eventually be another data set that can be used to confirm/deny genealogical conclusions.

Comments

Your profile can be either unlisted or private, although members are encouraged (maybe even expected) to not be unlisted.  Private has four types that permit you to make either your family tree or your biography or both or neither public, while keeping everything else private.  If you make your family tree public then the DNA result you enter will be able to propagate to your ancestors, enabling the possibility of discovering other relatives on WikiTree.

If your parents are living then their profiles can only be unlisted here, which would certainly protect their privacy, but also block DNA results from propagating to (and past) them.  To allow DNA to pass through, you can have your parents become members so that their profiles can be made "private with public family tree".  They can join, make you their profile manager, and never do anything else here if they don't want to.

Of course, it is completely your choice whether to allow your family tree to be public.  Everyone respects your right to whatever level of privacy you feel comfortable with.

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Gaile, just to clarify one of your points, you said "If your parents are living then their profiles can only be unlisted here, which would certainly ... block DNA results from propagating to (and past) them." Actually the DNA results will pass through unlisted profiles. For example my father is still alive and has never been a member so his profile is unlisted, but my DNA tests are shown on his father's profile (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Masini-9).

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THANX, Paul - I didn't realize that - it is VERY good to know.

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Gaile, an active member who has signed the Honor Code cannot be Unlisted. They can be any other of the privacy settings.

Answer 2

WikiTree doesn’t collect or store any actual DNA data, just the fact that you have taken a test or test.  If all your family members’ profiles are private that won’t be of any help.  Once test information is added Wikitree propagates that information back through your tree and makes a note on the profiles of those you would be expected to share DNA with.  In order to actually compare DNA you need to use a 3rd party site like Gedmatch.

Comments

Groleau, These videos show some of the benefits of adding your GEDmatch ID to WikiTree: https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1054650/how-does-help-you-register-gedmatch-your-gedmatch-wikitree

Answer 3

"YMMV" but I am not going to publish anything that might be used for identity theft—idiots at most banks STILL think mother's maiden name is a good security question.

My parents won't be members because they only tolerated their internet access for a year before saying "never again."

I did put a profile on GEDMatch, but it hasn't been of any help.  And I'm already wondering if it was a privacy faux pas.

Comments

The good news is that GedMatch is entirely local to that file, and will be deleted after 30 or 60 days of inactivity (can't remember which). Until you've gotten the full file done and matched everything you don't get Add buttons.

So, you still have time to reflect before you add them

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What's "that file"?  The GEDMatch data?  My GEDCOM?  My WikiTree profile?

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I think you are confusing GEDMatch (a DNA info site) with the GEDCOMpare on this site.