4 Awesome Genetic Genealogy Tools I Can’t Live Without
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Modern family historians must have a toolkit of resources to help them organize and analyze their genetic genealogy data.
In this post, I am sharing four genetic genealogy tools that I cannot live without: Lucidchart, DNA Painter, Gedmatch, and Airtable. Each of these tools offers a set of unique features that will help you make sense of your DNA results and simplify the complex process of genetic genealogy.
Why Genetic Genealogy is Important to Your Research
Genetic genealogy – the combination of DNA testing and traditional genealogy research – is a powerful tool for family historians.
A few of the benefits that genetic genealogy can offer include:
- Confirmation of existing research. Genetic genealogy can help confirm existing research and provide evidence to support family relationships.
- Discovery of new relatives. DNA testing can help you discover new relatives who may not have been known to you before. This can include distant cousins, half-siblings, or even close family members who were previously unknown (buyer beware!).
- Identification of ethnic origins. DNA testing may help identify your ethnic origins and provide insight into your ancestral history.
- Breakthroughs in brick walls. DNA testing can help break through genealogical “brick walls” where traditional research has failed.
- Collaboration with others. DNA testing and genetic genealogy can connect you with others who are researching the same family lines, providing an opportunity for collaboration and shared knowledge.
To help organize and interpret your DNA results, I recommend the following four tools that I personally use on an almost-daily basis in my own genetic genealogy research.
Lucidchart
As a visual learner, I need to see things in order to fully process the information. So, when I begin working on a genetic genealogy project, one of the first things I do is set up a family tree chart to show how the DNA cousins are connected.
The tool I use for doing this is Lucidchart.
What It Is
Lucidchart is an online diagramming tool that makes it easy to create family trees, mind maps, timelines, and many other types of charts and diagrams that are useful for family history research.
Everything is stored in the cloud, which means there is no downloading or installation of software, and you can access your diagrams from practically anywhere. There is even an app for iOS and Android devices to keep you connected on the go.
You can invite your DNA cousins to collaborate with you on your Lucidchart. To do this, simply add their email address and set permissions or create a shareable link so your DNA cousins can join you in the discovery process.
How to Get Started
Lucidchart offers a free plan so you can try it before you buy. The free plan limits users to three editable documents with sixty shapes per document. 100 templates are included in the free plan.
The free plan is a great way to get started, especially if you are new to genetic genealogy. However, if you are working on more than three projects or if your projects are very complex and involve many subjects, you will most likely run out of documents and shapes quickly.
Lucidchart offers a variety of templates to help you get started quickly. To be honest, I don’t often use their templates because my “working” genetic genealogy charts tend to be simple line drawings with color coding. But I do occasionally use a template to create family tree charts for clients or for presentations.
I am a paid Lucidchart subscriber because I used all sixty shapes within about a week of starting a complex genetic genealogy project. I have stayed with Lucidchart because the other charting tools I tried were either not intuitive or could not create the charts I needed.
Pros
- Cloud-based; no software to install.
- Lots of templates.
- More intuitive to use than other online diagramming websites.
- Free starter plan.
Cons
- The free plan is limited to 3 documents and 60 shapes, which is not enough for complex projects.
- Paid plan may be expensive.
DNA Painter
The second genetic genealogy tool that I can’t live without is DNA Painter. In fact, it was when I started using DNA Painter that genetic genealogy finally began to make sense to me – probably because DNA Painter is perfect for visual learners!
What It Is
DNA Painter is a website for family historians who have taken at least one autosomal DNA test and want to map segments of their DNA to specific ancestors. Basically, DNA Painter helps you “paint” your chromosomes with your DNA matches.
DNA Painter offers a generous selection of tools to aid in your genetic genealogy research. A few of these include:
- Shared cM Tool – An interactive tool to show possible and probable relationships based on the number of shared centimorgans.
- What are the Odds (WATO) – A tool to help create a probability tree.
- Ancestry Chromosome Painter Segments – This is a new tool to convert your Ancestry DNA “Chromosome Painter” segments into chromosome stop and start points that you can use in a chromosome map.
- Bucketing – Helps group matches into maternal and paternal sides.
- Coverage Estimator – Another new tool to estimate DNA coverage for an ancestor by indicating which of their descendants has tested.
Visit the DNA Painter website for a full list of their tools, as well as a link to other third-party tools for genetic genealogy.
Note: DNA Painter is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any of the DNA testing companies.
How to Get Started
You can get started at DNA Painter for free. Free members have access to all of DNA Painter’s tools but are limited to one chromosome mapping profile. Free members cannot do bulk imports and may have only one tree. Additionally, a GEDCOM import is limited to the fourth great-grandparent level.
A DNA Painter subscription is currently $55 USD per year. This is a great value when you consider the cost of other genetic genealogy testing companies and tools!
If you need help getting started, check out their extensive help section for FAQs, articles, and videos.
FYI, I am a DNA Painter subscriber with multiple profiles and projects at DNA Painter.
Pros
- Cloud-based; no software to install.
- Tons of tools to help visualize and analyze your DNA.
- Great for visual learners.
- Free starter plan.
Cons
- Free plan is limited.
- $55 USD per year to subscribe.
GEDmatch
The third genetic genealogy tool I can’t live without is GEDmatch. Uploading your DNA to GEDmatch is a great way to expand your matches beyond the limits of a single testing company.
What It Is
GEDmatch is a free DNA comparison and analysis website for people who have tested their autosomal DNA using a direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing company, such as Ancestry, 23andMe, Family Tree DNA, and other sources.
With over 1.4 million users in the GEDmatch community, you have a much larger pool of potential matches, many of whom may not have tested at the same company where you tested.
Here are a few reasons to consider uploading your DNA data to GEDmatch:
- Privacy controls. GEDmatch allows you to control how much of your DNA data is visible to others on the site. And GEDmatch never stores your raw DNA files.
- More tools for analysis. With more than forty-five DNA tools available, GEDmatch offers more tools in one place than anywhere else.
- Fast Results. You will receive DNA matches within 24 hours of uploading your DNA data.
When I first started using GEDmatch, it was a mess to look at, and in no way intuitive to use. Thankfully, GEDmatch got the hint: the updated interface is clean and much easier to use!
What About Law Enforcement?
In April 2018, news broke about how GEDmatch was used by law enforcement to identify a suspect in the Golden State Killer case in California. As a result, other agencies also started using GEDmatch to solve violent crimes, making it the go-to genetic genealogy database for law enforcement.
If you – or any of your DNA test-takers – would prefer not to be part of law enforcement matching, you can easily opt out by clicking the POLICE icon under Your DNA Resources on your homepage.
How to Get Started
GEDmatch is free to join and find matches. Additional tools, as well as unlimited kit uploads, are available with a Tier 1 subscription (currently $10 USD a month).
To use GEDmatch, users must download their DNA data file from the testing company, and then upload it to GEDmatch. GEDmatch then processes the file, adds it to a genealogical database, and provides applications for matching and further analysis.
- How to download from 23andMe
- How to download from Ancestry DNA
- How to download from Family Tree DNA
- How to download from MyHeritage DNA
Even with the updated interface, new users may find GEDmatch a bit confusing to use at first. But no worries: GEDmatch offers a comprehensive series of educational videos and tutorials to help you get the most out of using the site. You can also get help from other users on the GEDmatch Forums.
FYI, I am a GEDmatch Tier 1 subscriber.
Pros
- Cloud-based; no software to install.
- Free to get started.
- Many tools are available to free users.
Cons
- Free plan is limited to upload of 5 kits.
- May be confusing to use at first.
- Some users may be uncomfortable with law enforcement access.
Family Locket’s Airtable Templates
Time is at a premium these days, and I am a huge fan of not reinventing the wheel. So, when a fellow family historian creates a product that is efficient and works for me… I’m in!
That’s why the fourth genetic genealogy tool I can’t live without is Family Locket’s Airtable research log templates.
What It Is
Simply put, Airtable is a system of online spreadsheets. In some ways, it is very similar to Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, so if you have worked with either of those, you should find it fairly easy to understand Airtable.
However, there are some major differences between Airtable and Excel or Google Sheets:
- Airtable has a more modern and visually appealing design compared to Excel or Google Sheets. It is also more customizable, with the ability to change the color scheme and background of individual views.
- Airtable has a more structured approach to data management and includes features like linked records, customizable views, and field types that are similar to a database.
- Airtable is designed for collaboration with features like real-time updates, shared views, and comments.
As a visual learner, I particularly appreciate the ability to color-code various elements. It makes finding them much easier in a long, complicated spreadsheet!
The Templates
Airtable already comes with access to dozens and dozens (maybe hundreds?) of templates for use in a variety of projects. I have tried many of them, but none seemed to work for any of my genealogy projects.
Fortunately, Nicole Dyer of Family Locket has created several templates for family history research that are available for free in the Airtable Universe. The majority were created for use in their Research Like A Pro class, but the templates can also be used for your individual projects.
For genetic genealogy, take a look at the “RLP with DNA 2023” template. There is a blank version, but you will want to take a look at the pre-filled sample to help you figure out how to get started and properly use the template.
How to Get Started
To get started using Airtable, simply sign up for a free account. The free plan includes unlimited bases (bases are kind of like a project homepage) with 1,200 records per base, up to five creators or editors, 2 GB of attachments per base, and more. If you need more than that – which is unlikely – paid subscriptions are available.
If you need more help getting your Airtable projects up and running, take a look at the articles in the Support section.
I have had a free plan for several years and have never found it necessary to purchase a paid plan. If you run out of room, you can always create a new base!
Pros
- Cloud-based; no software to install.
- Free plan is adequate for most projects.
- Many templates are available to help you get started.
- Good for visual learners.
Cons
- No access to projects when the site is down.
- Not always intuitive to use; slight learning curve to get started.
Wrap Up
Lucidchart, DNA Painter, Gedmatch, and Airtable are four tools I can’t live without in my genetic genealogy research. I believe these powerful tools will help you, too, better visualize and analyze your DNA data, organize your research, and connect with DNA cousins that you may not have known existed.
Keep in mind that genetic genealogy is a complex field requiring patience and persistence. Be sure to take some time to learn how to properly use your genetic genealogy tools in order to understand their features and limitations.
Which tools are YOU using to uncover your family’s genetic history? Please share in the comments!
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Thanks for the info. I did not know Family Locket had their own Airtable Research Log Templates. I tried to give Airtable a quick try after I heard about it in one of their presentations, but it seemed like it wasn’t something that I could learn how to use in an instant. The same goes for Lucid Chart, which I just tried out quickly last week, but it also seems like something that can not be learned super quickly. When I have time on my hands, whenever that may be, I will give them a try again. 🙂
Hi Diane, There’s a bit of a learning curve to both products. I figured out Lucidchart pretty quickly, but I’ll admit that Airtable has some features that I’m still learning to use. When you have time, try playing around with the sample logs to see “how they did it” (that’s what I did). Sometimes time invested in learning something new can be time-saver later! 🙂