Family Tree DNA has begun notification on a weekly (no doubt
when it applies) updates to their system.
This is greatly appreciated as changes requested by the genetic
genealogy public are coming quickly.
This week we have two changes:
1. Being able to clear
their map coordinates for their oldest known maternal and paternal lines as
that person can change as we add information to our lineages.
2. Using a matrix for Family Finder matches to determine if
two or more of your matches match each other.
The Family Finder Matrix feature is extremely important in
finding half-identical regions (HIRs) which allow you to map your chromosomes
and determine a possible common ancestor.
Background:
Each
of our 23 chromosomes is actually a pair of chromosomes since we receive one
from mom and one from dad, but the current chromosome comparison features do
not indicate that each chromosome is actually a pair. This is partially due to
not knowing which of the pair came from which parent. Determining which parent
gave which chromosome in the pair can only be clarified after testing relatives
and / or finding common ancestors with your matches or from phasing a parent(s)
and child. Although viewing DNA segments with your matches using a chromosome
comparison feature is an important step in finding a common ancestor, it is
more important to determine the half-identical regions you share with your
matches.
Where
you match someone on one of the pair in any chromosome is referred to as a
half-identical region. This is the
region or segment along one of the copies of a chromosome (either the one from
mom or the one from dad) where at least one of the two bases (A, G, T, C) of a
person’s test results match at least one of the two bases from a different
person's test results. This match should be throughout the entire HIR segment.
If you wish to locate the common
ancestor you share with a match or learn which ancestor gave you the DNA
segment, you must determine the half-identical regions you share with your
matches. If you are comparing two or more matches with your DNA results, you
must determine which half-identical region you share with those matches and
which they share with each other, if any. Testers
must match on the same half-identical region in order to have the same common
ancestor. The new Family Finder Matrix can help.
Family Tree liaison Rebekah Canada has sent the following
message from Family Tree DNA:
Weekly Information Technology/Engineering Update
(10 Dec 2013)
Matches Maps Locations Clear Button
Some users have requested the ability to clear their stored
map coordinates for their most distant known maternal or paternal ancestors. We
have added a Remove Location button
to Step 3 of the Update Most Distant Ancestor’s Location wizard.
Family Tree DNA myFTDNA BETA Family
Finder – Matrix
Today, we are happy to release our new BETA Family Finder – Matrix page.
The Matrix tool can tell you if two or more of your matches match each other.
This is most useful when you discover matches with wholly or partly overlapping
DNA segments on the Family Finder - Chromosome Browser page.
Due to privacy concerns, the suggested relationship of your
two matches (if related) is not revealed. However, we can tell you whether they
are related according to our Family Finder program. To use it, you select up to
10 names from the Match list on the
left side of the page and add them to the Selected
Matches list on the right side of the page. A grid will populate below the
lists. It will indicate whether there is a match (a blue check mark) or there
is not a match (an empty white tile).
You access the BETA Family Finder – Matrix page through the
Family Finder menu in your myFTDNA account.
The page starts out with two list areas: Matches and
Selected Matches. You add Matches to the Selected Matches list by clicking on a
name and then on the Add button.
Here is a screenshot of the BETA Family Finder – Matches
page with a few matches added to the Selected Matches list.
WOW...Family Tree DNA is listening to its customers and quickly applying their requests. What more could you ask! Thank you FTDNA!
Explore the new features now, before more come rolling along and you get behind!
Enjoy,
Emily
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