DNA Tips From Jamboree 2016

Targeted Testing Is Best

I agree with Thomas Jones in his “Maximizing Your Use of Genealogical Evidence” presentation. Targeted testing choosing testers based on a particular problem you’re trying to solve is the most effective use of DNA

He also stated, especially with autosomal DNA, you generally need to compare with several testers in order to draw any conclusions from DNA

(Looking at matches and using them to confirm you don’t have a break in a line, or confirming your paper trail is also useful)

Organizing DNA files

“Be Your Own Digital Archivist: Preserve Your Research” presentation by Cyndi Ingle. This was a wonderful presentation. She suggested organizing DNA files by type and person.

My Messy DNA Files

I never organized my raw data files. I just kept them in Downloads.

I’ve now made files for my mother and I based on DNA categories

My New Raw Data files by tester/ Now In Genealogy Subfolder

DNA Segment Comparisons/ Now in Genealogy Subfolder by tester

Spreadsheets filed by Tester

Match Lists filed by Tester

Ethnicity Results Folders For All Testers

More Folders

Cyndi Ingle suggested folders for notes on each tester She also recommended making a chart with a list of tests taken,

and where, for each tester I took her ideas and made folders based on my needs. Each

person will probably want to make their own categories for folders

It’s good to download as much data as you can from the testing companies in case a site goes down, or can’t provide raw data when requested, so you don’t have to wait until a site is fixed

You can use DNA Client from DNAGedcom, or the AncestryDNA chrome extension to download your Ancestry matches