How to Get the Most out of your DNA Results

No matter which test you have taken, there are a few essential actions you should take to get the most out of your DNA test. You may not be able to do all of them all at once, so come back to this page often and check it out again to see if there is anything else you could be doing to maximise the value you get from your DNA test.

You may wish to share the link to this page with any potential recruits so that they can see what they will get if they test.

Make yourself visible to your cousins

1) Add your Maloney Ancestral Line as a Comment on our ACTIVITY FEED. This will potentially help other people to connect with you. It would help if you could provide it in the following format:

1) James MALONEY b c1835 Ardagh, Co.Longford, d 12 Nov 1879 Keenagh, Co. Longford, m 13 Apr 1860 Maria COYLE, Keenagh, Co. Longford

2) Mortimer MALONEY b 1861 etc ... (birth, death, marriage details)

3) Abigail MALONEY b 1890 ... (as above)

4) Francis KENNEDY b 1914 … as above, but not including dates for a) births <100 years ago, b) marriages <75 years ago, or c) deaths <50 years ago

Researcher: (insert your initials here)

Your email address

DNA Kits: (insert your DNA kit numbers)

Link to online tree: www.some-website.com  

2) Use your kit number and password to Log in to your personal webpage and explore it. There are a lot of bits & pieces of information you can include on your personal webpage that will optimise your chances of successful collaboration with your DNA matches. And knowing what your DNA results can tell you will help you get the most out of them.

3) You should add your MDKA information (Most Distant Known Ancestor) including dates & locations for both birth and death. The format we recommend is the same as the one above, but you may have to abbreviate it as only a certain number of letters are allowed in this field. Location of birth is the most important piece of information. Here is an example:

James MALONEY b1835 Kilcullen, Co.Kildare, d1879 New York

To add this information, simply click on your name in the top right of your homepage - Account Settings - Genealogy - Most Distant Ancestors ... I have posted instructions on how to do this here (from my Farrell DNA project)_.

5) Upload your Family Tree as a GEDCOM file so that you have a version of your family tree on your FTDNA webpages.   This is particularly important if you have done a Family Finder test (autosomal DNA). You can also add your Family Tree manually if it is easier for you. And if you have a Family Tree online, leave a link to it in the About Me section of your Personal Profile. Click here for specific instructions on uploading a Gedcom file - https://www.familytreedna.com/learn/ftdna/how-to-family-tree/

6) Optimise your Privacy settings so that your potential cousins can see your results:

• Hover over your Name in the top right
• Click on Account Settings, then the Privacy & Sharing tab at the end of the menu bar above
• Then simply change the settings under My DNA Results by clicking on the words "Project Members" at the end, and on the next screen checking the box beside "Make my mtDNA & Y-DNA data public". Then press Save.

Check out Project-related Resources

There are a lot of resources that are particularly relevant to the Maloney DNA Project and you should check out and use these as you feel appropriate.

1)  Join the relevant Haplogroup projects

Your results will reveal your haplogroup (your branch of the human Y-DNA tree and/or human mtDNA tree). Once your results arrive, make sure you join all the relevant projects as these will assist us in the further analysis of your data and in particular your deep ancestry (where in the world your particular ancestors originated several thousand years ago). The projects are run by volunteer project administrators and they are a rich source for advice, guidance, and support. Frequently there is an associated mailing list or Facebook group you can join to keep abreast of up-to-date developments (this is a fast-moving field).

Relevant Y-DNA haplogroup projects identified thus far include the following:

• R1b - Groups should join R1b ALL subclades
• I1 groups - should join the I1 subclade project
• People who have tested more downstream SNPs should join the appropriate subclade project

If your haplogroup project is not listed here, you can see if there is a specific project for your haplogroup on this list: http://www.isogg.org/wiki/Y-DNA_haplogroup_projects

2) Join the relevant Geographical Projects

Relevant Y-DNA geographical projects may include the following:

• British Isles by county
• Ireland Y-DNA
• Munster Irish

There may be other geographical projects that are relevant to your ancestral line and you can find them on this list: http://www.isogg.org/wiki/Geographical_DNA_projects

Check out General Resources

There is a lot of information out there about genetic genealogy in general and it can be a bit confusing knowing where to find it. Below is a selection of our "best bits".

1) FTDNA have a lot of useful information in their Learning Centre. Be sure to check out the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions).

2) The ISOGG wiki is a great place to start looking for general information about any topic related to genetic genealogy, including your particular type of test.

3) Read Kelly Wheaton's beginners’ guide to genetic genealogy: https://sites.google.com/site/wheatonsurname/beginners-guide-to-genetic-genealogy

4) Download and read the e-book from the resources tab on your myFTDNA homepage.

5) There are a variety of different YouTube videos on genetic genealogy which have been prepared by ISOGG members and Project Administrators.

• Watch the recordings of the WDYTYA Live lectures: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HQSiSkiy7ujlkgQER1FYw
• Watch the FTDNA videos and webinars: http://www.familytreedna.com/learn/ftdna/webinars
• Watch videos from Genetic Genealogy Ireland: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHnW2NAfPIA2KUipZ_PlUlw 

6) Sign up to the relevant genetic genealogy mailing lists, forums and Facebook groups. These can be great sources of help if you have a specific question. See the list here: http://www.isogg.org/wiki/Genetic_genealogy_mailing_lists.

We particularly recommend:

• The ISOGG Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/isogg
• The ISOGG DNA Newbie list: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/DNA-NEWBIE/info
• The Family Tree DNA Forums: http://forums.familytreedna.com

7) Read blogs written by experienced genetic genealogists. See this list of genetic genealogy blogs: http://www.isogg.org/wiki/Genetic_genealogy_blogs

8) Read the relevant articles about your specific DNA-test ...

Y-DNA - traces your father's father's father's line

Y-DNA basics: http://www.familytreedna.com/learn/dna-basics/ydna