Placement of DNA section in profiles that also have Research Notes section?

Question

The instructions in Help:DNA Confirmation tell us:

"DNA confirmation statements should be included in a section headed === DNA ===, placed just above the == Sources == section."

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:DNA_Confirmation

If a profile also has a Research Notes section, this results in DNA as a subsection under Research Notes.  Is that the desired result?  Would it make more sense for the DNA section be above Research Notes, so that it is a subsection of Biography?   

Thank you,  Karen

Answer 1

What can be used as a major section heading in a profile (i.e. == Heading ==) is limited and specified at Help:Biographies.  Currently, the only options allowed besides Biography and Sources are Research Notes and Acknowledgements.  While the idea of adding DNA as a major section may have some merit, it is not currently authorized.

The new DNA Confirmation guidance is currently under development and in flux.  In specifying that the === DNA ==== section should appear just above Sources, it doesn't appear that profiles with == Research Notes == were considered.  As K. Yager observed, following the guidance would put the === DNA === section under the Biography in most profiles, and under Research Notes in profiles that include it.  Until clarification is given, I would suggest that === DNA === should be placed as the last section in the Biography.

Comments

Thank you, Kerry.  And in case it's not clear, I'm advocating for a policy change regarding the placement of the DNA section, not promoting actions contrary to current policy.  ~ Karen

---

Agreed. The basic problem is that telling us to place a subsection above another section is much clunkier than just saying it should be part of a specific section. In other words, don't say "subsection above Sources", say "subsection of Biography."

Answer 2

I actually think that the “Research Notes” is a good section for the DNA subsection confirmation statements, especially if you have a nice verbose bio section (tho I noticed that my own DNA confirmation statements are a subsection of my own sparse bio section, since I don’t have a Research Notes section on my own profile). For most profiles that I create, I usually add a Research Notes section to justify the chosen profile dates/locations and bio info from what may be multiple conflicting sources/citations.

Answer 3

I always put mine after sources at the same level as sources (i.e. == DNA ==).  I could possibly be convinced that it should be placed before sources but would strongly argue that it not be at a lower level than the bio and sources.

Comments

Thank you, Thomas.  I didn't see your answer until after I posted my latest reply.  It seems like we are on the same page with regard to wanting DNA to be a section instead of subsection.

Answer 4

Yes, I am replying to my own question , because my thoughts have evolved, and it seemed better to put this as a separate idea.

First, thank you for your thoughtful reply, Rick.  From what I have seen, most WikiTree profiles don't have a Research Notes section.  That means that in terms of contents, the DNA section will be a subsection of Biography in most profiles, but is found instead as a subsection of Research Notes in the profiles that have that section. 

Perhaps the best solution would be to make DNA a section == DNA == that gets entered directly above Sources, instead of a subsection === DNA === that can end up within different sections of profiles.  Thoughts?

~ Karen

Answer 5

I place ==DNA== below the item I am supporting, usually it's something in ==biography==. I also attach a screen shot image of results for Y DNA that shows groupings, then I can reference specific kits within the grouping.