Why a course about AncestryDNA overwhelm?
Overwhelm is a difficult issue. It’s obviously negative but on top of that, it often leaves you confused or unclear. So, you’ve signed up for a course called Overcoming AncestryDNA Overwhelm but you may not really know what you expect to get out of this course.
In a moment I’ll lay out exactly what this course will and will not cover but first, why even create such a course? What specific problem did I see and am trying to help you solve? And why AncestryDNA, specifically? You may be wondering if I picked AncestryDNA because of its popularity.
I didn’t.
This course is specifically about AncestryDNA for one major reason. Segment data.
Don't know what segment data is? Read this section.
If you do understand segment data and its significance, feel free to skip this shaded section and resume below.
Lost already? Don’t worry, that’s ok. If you don’t have a background in genetics, you will have to learn a lot of new terminology if you really want to get into using DNA. That’s one reason people get overwhelmed in general, not just with AncestryDNA.
This is not an advanced course about using DNA for genealogy (referred to as genetic genealogy). If you don’t have a handle on the terminology, that is fine. There are some basic concepts you need to be familiar with but you can learn them as you go if you don’t already know them.
So let’s get back to “segment data” and what it is and what it has to do with this course.
Segment data is the information provided about the segment of DNA you share with a DNA match. You can share one or many segments and it can be on one or more chromosomes.
Segment data isn’t provided at AncestryDNA. The other “big four” genetic genealogy testing companies provide this information so that is why AncestryDNA is different (for the purposes of this course).
Segment data is available to people who tested at AncestryDNA, just not through the AncestryDNA website. During the course we will talk about how you can get this information. However, that doesn’t fully solve the issues with not having it through the AncestryDNA website.
So what’s the big deal with segment data, why do you care?
Segment data is how you confirm a genetic relationship. Finding a shared ancestor in a tree does not confirm a genetic relationship. First, seeing a shared ancestor in someone’s tree (and even having them in yours) does not guarantee a genetic relationship. The ancestor in the tree might be incorrect (an error in research was made) or they might not be a genetic relation (there could have been an adoption or other event such as a step-parent). Second, even if the shared ancestor is your and your match’s genetic relative, that might not be where the shared DNA came from.
We use segment data to confirm this.
If you’re thinking you don’t care if the segment data confirms it, you’re happy with someone having a shared ancestor in their tree, that’s fine. Except there’s one more thing to consider.
Did you take a DNA test just to find known ancestors in people’s trees?
Probably not. I bet you want to find unknown ancestors. Without segment data you can’t do this accurately and usually, you will go down many incorrect and unnecessary paths in the process. With segment data you will still go down incorrect paths, that’s just a part of genealogy. But you will go down paths with a purpose and based on solid methodology, not every random path that comes up.
This is all very well and good but what does it have to do with a course about overcoming overwhelm?
You are likely overwhelmed by the number of matches you have at AncestryDNA. Segment data would allow you to target specific matches of interest and that would reduce your overwhelm. You could create a plan with a research goal rather than just an organizing goal.
Without segment data, you can try to target specific matches bases on your interest but it’s very limited. You are essentially relying on public trees (which many matches don’t have) and shared matches. Shared matches can lead you VERY astray but are important.
The purpose of this course is to teach you how to use the tools you do have at AncestryDNA to better target matches of interest. I call the technique I use the Four Buckets Technique.
The Four Buckets Technique will help you organize your matches and also target those of interest. It can be done in small or large amounts of time and it is pretty simple to keep track of what you’ve done so you don’t repeat work.
This course will teach you how to do this technique but I’ll also cover other tasks to help you get the most out of your AncestryDNA matches.
In essence, what this course is about is working with your AncestryDNA matches to get them organized in such a way that you can identify which ones to focus on. By focusing on a subset of your matches, and having the others organized for future use, you will reduce or elliminate your overwhelm. You will have a plan, a focus, and know what you need to do.
For those that like a course outline, here is what is covered.
- Basics of navigating AncestryDNA
- Getting more from AncestryDNA, what you have to do to access some tools and maximize your success working with matches that contact you.
- Going beyond AncestryDNA to get more from your DNA results (mostly free tools). This is where you’ll learn how to get your segment data.
- How to do the Four Buckets Technique and how to use it.
- What to do after you’ve performed the technique.
- Suggestions of what else you can do.
Please make sure and read the next lecture about what this course does NOT cover.