Who provides the most value? DNA testing and Beyond
Who provides the most value? DNA testing and Beyond
As researchers, we have many choices in DNA tests and genealogy websites. Given that both time and money are limited, what strategies and choices help us best reach our research goals?
As always, "it depends." Most of my analysis is based on American costs and services, and family history based in Colonial America, Canada and northern Europe. Your needs and circumstances might be different.
Ancestry.com is the Behemoth
Ancestry's DNA database is as large as all the other testing companies and sites combined. So, most everyone who can afford DNA testing should prioritize Ancestry testing of as many older relatives as possible. Help them set up their accounts; if they are not interested in using their findings for research, have them assign you to manage their kits. Connect their DNA data to their profile in your Ancestry tree as soon as results come in, and begin adding their matches to your tree, along with DNA fact sources and linked records, then link the match DNA profile to their tree profile on your tree. The elders' test value will strengthen your tree long after they are gone.
Strengths
- Enormous database
- Match group sorting via "dots"
- Strong "DNA communities" data
- Ease of DNA sharing
- Manage multiple kits securely
- Trees free, easily edited and corrected; no size limit
- ThruLines® is powerful and helpful
- Messaging system continues to improve
- DNA match profiles with notes useful
- Top lines of DNA notes appear in match list
- Connection tools for DNA matches, fellow researchers
- Linking DNA match and tree profile quick and easy
- Symbols for DNA profile can be displayed in the tree once profiles are linked
- Match list sorting is robust; Pro Tools($) add extra data
- Private, unsearchable shareable trees - important tool for sensitive DNA cases
- Ancestry trees can be synced to both Family Tree Maker and RootsMagic
- Gedcom up and downloads of trees
- Some testers are nowhere else
Weaknesses
- No DNA segment data
- Scanty DNA match data
- No downloads of match data
- No longer possible to assign proper relationships to "distant" matches on DNA match profile
- ThruLines® can not be easily corrected
- Must test at Ancestry; no way to transfer in other test results
- Haplogroups not reported
- Tree problems and duplicate profile reports cost extra (Pro Tools)
- Top-tier membership is expensive
- No formal account access assignment in advance of need
- Gedcom downloads are text-only; no attached records or images are included
- Only free record access remains once membership payment lapses
- Partial or full record-sets can disappear without notice
- Bitterness lingers about Ancestry's purchase of the Sorenson Y-DNA database; later end of access
- Rootsweb purchase and subsequent decimating of site and mail lists rankle
MyHeritage
Strengths
- Robust free DNA match tools; relationships between matches
- Theories of Family Relativity can be confirmed or rejected
- Manage multiple kits securely
- Match grouping via "dots"
- Built-in DNA cluster tools
- Visually pleasing, data-dense chromosome browser
- Triangulated segments marked
- Uploads of DNA data from other testing companies
- Gedcom up and downloads of trees
- Free tools such as tree problems and duplicate profile reports
- Tree profile match links to Wikitree, FamilySearch Family Tree, Geni and Filae in basic membership
- Omni plan includes many features for lower cost than Ancestry top-tier membership + Pro Tools
- DNA tests go on sale frequently; often lowest price of all
Weaknesses
- Few matches have trees
- Small trees
- Weak tree-building tools
- Duplicate profiles; baffling inability to merge
- No formal account access assignment in advance of need
- Gedcom downloads text-only; no attached records or images are included
- Most records are inaccessible to free accounts; access to records lost when paid membership lapses
- Partial or full record-sets can disappear without notice
- No DNA profile connections to tree profiles
- DNA notes must be opened to see any information
Family Tree DNA
The original American DNA testing company; the database has grown much more slowly than the "Big Three"—Ancestry, 23andMe, and MyHeritage. Until recently, FTDNA did not have corporate funding, and has never had widespread advertising beyond relationships with genealogy and family history organizations. However, because of the volunteer support behind the special DNA groups, there is a lot of customer loyalty. For some research questions, Y-DNA testing is the only way to find an answer; mitochondrial (mt) testing also is highly useful in some situations. New analysis tools and groups supporting surname, haplogroup and localities continue to be developed and users (even non-testers) find them useful.
Strengths
- World class Y and mitochondrial DNA testing
- Robust free DNA match tools, including the ability to compare relationships between matches
- Chromosome browser
- Haplogroup report
- ancientOrigins; archeological DNA comparison
- DNA groups: surname, haplogroup, localities
- Email messaging
- Notes are compact, accessible, useful
- Uploads are allowed for autosomal data, growing that database
- Match sorting and searching tools include tree data
- Tree integration being transformed
- Privacy controls are strong now
- Account access can be set up in advance of need, for a family member or group administrator
- Y test can be linked to Geni profiles
- Storage for test samples allows additional testing
- Discover tool free to all
- Kits can be upgraded at a discount
- Match profiles can be connected to tree, improving match sorting
- Match autosomal, Y & mt data analysis
- Some testers are nowhere else
Weaknesses
- Y & mitochondrial DNA tests are expensive, even on sale
- Autosomal tests are also more expensive than competitors
- Loss of reputation years ago when they failed to follow their standards by allowing law enforcement access to match database without tester consent or notification
- Few hints about possible common ancestors beyond surname lists provided by tester and user-provided trees
- Autosomal database is the smallest of all but LivingDNA
- No ability to manage multiple kits with one login
- No color coding of matches
LivingDNA
The newest and smallest of all the testing companies, LivingDNA have grown slowly, but are adding tools such as DNA match groups, and a chromosome browser. While they briefly allowed connection between their test kits and FindMyPast trees, that has ended. Their connections to British Isles localities is unmatched. Free uploads of DNA data, use of the DNA tools and messaging.
Strengths
- British Isles locality matching and context through time
- Specials such as "Viking Heritage;" use ancient DNA data to enrich DNA story
- Free DNA uploads and tools
- DNA match groups
- Color-coded matches, notes
- Chromosome browser
- Some testers are nowhere else
Weaknesses
- Small database
- Scarce American advertising
- No tree links or tools
- No hints about possible common ancestors beyond matches in common
23andMe
Still the second-largest DNA database, due to strong corporate funding for advertising early on. The company has led with health testing and considers genealogy use of the site secondary. They have not built ties with genealogy or family history groups, nor have they focused on improving the tools we crave. Their recent security breach has severely impacted the company, leaving it in last place on my list. In years past, they accepted DNA uploads on some DNA Days, April 25. They offered free MyHeritage trees for awhile; and had a beta connection to the FamilySearch Family Tree as well. The profile allows tree linking, but not match profile linking. It seems that the future of the company is in doubt.
Strengths
- Second-largest DNA match database; lots of distant matches. If you have a very strong tree, built down to living people on the lines of interest, you may be able to place many of these matches in your tree
- If you contact people soon after they test, they often respond to messages
- DNA tree is interesting; sometimes useful
- Younger testing base
- Matches in common still shows differences in match strength
- Your Ancestry Composition Chromosome Painting
- Haplogroup report
- Some testers are nowhere else
- Ancient DNA data to enrich DNA story ($)
Weaknesses
- Zero corporate interest in family matching
- Zero corporate communication with genealogists
- Notes field is weak, but searchable
- No match groups
- No way to mark match profiles
- Few hints about possible common ancestors beyond tester-provided surname and locality lists, which are scarce
- Cluster reports from Genetic Affairs are no longer available
- Tiny amount of match data
- Chromosome browser has disappeared
- Must test at 23andMe; no way to transfer other test results
What is the right strategy for you?
That depends on your goals. For most Americans who have mostly American family history and can afford it, Ancestry.com is the best and first place to test yourself and your eldest relatives.
Use all the tools they provide as you have time to learn how to use them. While waiting for DNA results, upload or begin building a tree. Start with what you know, add what you suspect, and then prove every link in your tree. Find the supporting documents and other records and link them to your tree even if you can't afford to pay for a membership. Use the free records at Ancestry, and the FamilySearch records heavily; link every person named in the record. Keep image copies of every record on your own computer, transcribe each record and keep the transcription with the image in the gallery; link it to every person named in the record. Build a tree on FamilySearch as well, so that you can use the "hints" there. And of course, have a tree on your own computer with both linked records and DNA match data. Using software that allows "syncing" will keep everything accurate and complete. New RootsMagic 10 has added DNA data to the program.
As you identify DNA matches, add them to your tree, and use the tools to link their DNA profile to your tree, create a useful DNA "fact" in their tree profile, and a note on their DNA profile. Use the "matches in common" on every DNA profile to build your DNA groups, one step at a time. Build good habits; it will save you so much time in the long run.
As you have time and energy, upload to other websites. If they give you the ability to link your DNA data to a tree, upload one and start the linking there. I choose to add all the DNA matches I find to my Ancestry tree, and use all possible Ancestry tools such as adding DNA Facts to their tree profiles. You can use a DNA symbol in the suffix field of the tree profile so they show in the tree view if you like. More important is adding records and doing research on everyone in the family back to the common ancestors. This is how you will identify matches with no trees.
It is so fun! When it stops being fun, take a break. This is a hobby, and endlessly fascinating.
Enjoy!
PS: for another way to weigh the companies and their services, see the ISOGG Wiki.
Thanks to all who have recently shared your stories. Keep them coming to m.strickland@skcgs.org
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| Valorie Zimmerman |
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