ACTIVE DOCUMENTARY AND DNA RESEARCH PROJECTS
If you got a call, email, or direct message from one of our team members, we have possibly identified you as a key match for a DNA project, or a descendant for one of our documentary projects. Your assistance and participation may help us to break through a client's brick wall, and it may possibly be one that you have as well. All active projects can be found here:
Richardson, Miller, Prest DNA Project - updated January 2022
Hogue, Kimball, Noel DNA Project - started February 2022
Schultze DNA Project - started March 2022
Gualala Cemetery Documentary Research Project - updated March 2022
Christensen DNA Project - will begin in Fall of 2022
If you want to participate in one of our active DNA projects, please follow the instructions below.
If you wish to discuss a possible DNA project with our team, please click here to contact us.
1. If you have already had DNA testing through Ancestry, then follow the steps below to add us as a viewer to your DNA. As a viewer, we won't be able to make any changes to your DNA account, but will only be able to view your matches to make our needed analysis.
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From any page on Ancestry, click the DNA tab and select YOUR DNA RESULTS SUMMARY.
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On your DNA homepage, click SETTINGS in the top-right corner.
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On the DNA Settings page, scroll down to the Sharing Preferences section and click CHANGE beside DNA Ethnicity and Matches.
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Click ADD A PERSON and then assign us as a VIEWER.
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Enter the email address: kelly@anchoredgenealogy.com, select VIEWER, and click SEND INVITATION.
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When we accept your invitation, you will get an email confirmation letting you know we have access.
2. If you have your DNA results at GEDmatch, you can email us your kit number.
3. If you have not done your DNA, but would like to, you can purchase an AncestryDNA kit here.
4. If you would like to see if you are eligible for us to purchase an AncestryDNA kit for you, you can email us and tell us how you descend from any of subjects of our active DNA projects.
5. If you are not interested in sharing DNA with us, but have genealogical information you would like to share, please email us.
HOW DOES DNA WORK?
Autosomal DNA can help to identify ancestors about 6-8 generations away from the tester. When reviewing a DNA match, the testing website will report the amount of shared DNA (centimorgans or cM), but the specific relationship can only be discovered through analyzing pedigrees. Placing matches in genetic networks and tracking the surnames and locations that appear in different pedigrees can help pinpoint a common ancestor between a test taker and a DNA match. This process can help prove family relationships and lead to hypotheses for missing ancestors.
To find genetic clusters, DNA must be collected from multiple family members. The more family members that contribute tests, the more likelihood that a subject can be confirmed or identified. For example, if the objective was to prove someone's parent, and only one test-taker had been used, then fifty percent of the DNA for the parent would be covered in the analysis. For a grandparent, one test-taker would provide twenty-five percent, for a great-grandparent, one test taker would provide twelve and a half percent. Analyzing additional tests, improves the percentages.
To get the best coverage of a subjects DNA, best practice is to collect DNA from multiple descendants of each of their children. To learn more about DNA coverage, suggested reading is Paul Woodbury's article "Covering Your Bases: Introduction to Autosomal DNA Coverage".