Help:DNA FAQ
Categories: DNA Help
Here are questions and answers related to genetic genealogy on WikiTree. You can ask your own question in G2G using the tag dna.
How can an adoptee use WikiTree's DNA features?
WikiTree is valuable for seeking your biological roots. If you want to maintain a profile that connects you to your adoptive parents, you will need to create a second profile for growing your biological tree. See Adoptions and multiple parents.
Ask in G2G using the tag Adoption. Our Adoption Angels can help.
What are the privacy considerations for DNA on WikiTree?
WikiTree is not storing DNA or raw DNA test results. However, there are always privacy considerations.
First, we display the fact that a member has taken a test. The member will have the "DNA Tested" badge and will appear on lists of members who have taken a test. This is public regardless of the member's Privacy Level.
Second, we indicate on the profiles of the member's relatives that the member has taken a test. We call these "test connections."
Autosomal test connections
For Autosomal DNA Tests we make connections regardless of the Privacy Level of the member who took the test. This means that if the profile of a family member of the test-taker is public, the test connection will be public.
YDNA and mtDNA test connections
For Y-Chromosome DNA Tests and Mitochondrial DNA Tests we only make connections if Privacy Level of the member is Private with a Public Family Tree or higher.
Optional test information
There are additional considerations related to the optional test information you can enter. For example, you can include your ID at the testing company or a matching service such as Ysearch, Mitosearch, and GEDmatch.
Even though your profile at that other website may be public, it may or may not be connected with your real name or personally-identifiable information. Linking it to your WikiTree account will add to what's publicly available.
If you are uncertain about whether to add something, do not add it. Our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Acceptable Use Policy represent the entire agreement between users and WikiTree.
Can you enter a test for someone else?
You can only enter a test for someone else if they are deceased.
If the person is still living they need to create their own account. You can help them manage their account, but they must agree to WikiTree's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service by registering here. Note that this policy changed in 2018 because of the GDPR.
Why can't you enter a National Geographic or BritainsDNA test?
We want to include all tests from all companies on the test entry page — if they enable genealogical matching and comparison.
Some companies offer DNA information on ancestry, but not matching for genealogy.
This includes National Geographic's Genographic Project. This test only gives you deep (ancient) ancestral information. Even their autosomal test doesn't allow direct matching.
BritainsDNA is similar. It only gives you information on deep ancestry. They wrote in an e-mail to Kitty Smith: "Our tests are really intended for deep ancestry research rather than genealogy, and as such, we do not run a database or a matching service allowing people to find possible relatives."
The same is true for DNATribes. These tests can't be used to confirm or reject genealogical relationships so they should not be added to WikiTree.
Why don't your 23andMe-reported haplogroups appear on your direct line maternal and paternal ancestors?
23andMe reports your maternal and paternal haplogroups. However, these cannot be used for genealogical comparison.
Their Y-chromosome test checks SNP markers, not STR markers. Their mitochondrial haplogroup prediction is based on your match with differences which define the major mtDNA haplogroups. It does not include your personal mutations (extra differences) which are most useful in a genealogical timeframe.
Therefore, the haplogroups can be included on your test details but WikiTree treats the test only as an autosomal DNA test, not as a Y-chromosome test or a mitochondrial DNA test that attaches to profiles up and down the maternal and paternal lines.
If you haven't taken a test yet, which one should you take?
By far the most popular DNA tests for genealogy are the "autosomal" tests offered by 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and Family Tree DNA for $99 or less.
See DNA Tests for help choosing a test.
How can you order or recommend a test and give WikiTree credit for the referral?
If you plan to order a test for yourself, or would like to recommend that a family member or friend be tested, please use one of the links or URLs at the bottom of the DNA Tests page. This way WikiTree gets the referral credit.
Thank you! This helps WikiTree fulfill its pledge to always remain free for everyone.
Why do you need to cite a source when using "Confirmed with DNA"?
If you mark a relationship as Confirmed with DNA you need to include a source that details how DNA was used to make this confirmation.
See DNA Confirmation for instructions on how to:
- make the Confirmed with DNA determination for a father or mother, and then
- format a source citation that summarizes how you made the confirmation.
The purpose of all source citations is the same: To enable others to judge the accuracy of information. DNA may be an unusual source in some ways — for example, the raw data may not be available to third parties for privacy reasons — but this just makes careful source citations all the more important.
Why is triangulation necessary for confirmation with matches beyond third cousins?
Parent-child relationships can be labeled Confirmed with DNA when there is a sufficient amount of shared autosomal DNA between two relatives who are third cousins and closer. It is necessary to use triangulated groups — three or more matches on the same DNA segment — when the testers are greater than third cousins.
A sufficient amount of auDNA is determined by the total number of cMs of several segments normally shared specific relatives. See Mathematical Average for auDNA Sharing and Are There Any Absolutes in Genetic Genealogy?
See DNA Confirmation for instructions.
This page was last modified 17:35, 30 September 2021. This page has been accessed 23,302 times.