Have you ever tried to explain your pursuit of DNA matches, and found it hard put into words? Have you ever wanted to see an image of your DNA and how it connects you to your ancestors? Chromosome mapping will help you come up with an answer!
The goal in using DNA in our genealogy research is to learn which segments of our DNA we inherited from specific ancestors and use them to learn more about our parents, grandparents, and so on, back in time. Autosomal DNA is an extremely powerful tool that can help us confirm known ancestors and identify unknown ancestors. It can help us identify previously unknown relatives who may know more about our ancestors than we do. Newly identified DNA cousins may help us learn more about our shared ancestors or confirm speculated ancestors farther back in our shared ancestral line.
Chromosome mapping is an exciting technique that can be used to visualize your DNA and help you see the segments of DNA you inherited from your ancestors. Using your Autosomal DNA results, you can build a map of your chromosomes that shows segments that are inherited from specific ancestors or ancestral couples. Chromosome mapping is a more advanced technique you can use as you become increasingly familiar with DNA.
Some key concepts to keep in mind:
– You have 23 pairs of chromosomes in each of your cells; (or a total of 46 chromosomes). These chromosomes are numbered from 1 to 23.
– Autosomes are the pairs of chromosomes numbered 1 to 22. Autosomal chromosomes are similar in both males and females and are numbered by size
– You receive two copies of each chromosome – one copy from your father and one copy from your mother
–The sex chromosomes are named X and Y; this is the 23rd pair of chromosomes
– Males inherit one X chromosome from their mothers and a Y chromosome from their fathers (XY)
– Females inherit two X chromosomes; one from their father, which was inherited from his mother, and one from their mother- which is likely a combination of X-DNA from her mother and father. (XX)
The following link will open a fantastic 2:07 minute video from Learn.Genetics that explains and illustrates the principles of DNA inheritance:
https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/inheritance/
Genetic Science Learning Center, “What is Inheritance?” Learn.Genetics, 1 March 2016, ( https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/inheritance : accessed 26 August 2019)
In the video, different colors represent segments of DNA that were passed down through the generations from the great-grandparents. Chromosome mapping will help you visualize the segments of your DNA you inherited from your great-grandparents and more distant ancestors.
Initial Steps:
1. Figure out how you and one of your DNA matches are related.
2. Identify the DNA segments you share with your DNA match–which sections of various chromosomes do you have in common with your relative?
3. Combine the information of how you are related, and the DNA you share with a match to determine which ancestors you share. These ancestors are likely the ones that passed that shared DNA on to both of you.
4. Next, you can label the DNA segments’ origin as you identify their locations on a chromosome map.
5. Continue using steps 1-4 to fill in your chromosome map. As time goes on, you will be able to use your chromosome map to help determine the common ancestors you share with unknown cousins identified in your DNA match lists.
6. Chromosome mapping can be done on paper or in computer programs. A newer program that has made chromosome mapping clearer and easier is DNA Painter.
(Image created by Suzanne Chesney and Robin Wirthlin)
Key concepts in genetic genealogy:
1. Identify the familial relationship you share with your DNA matches. Use the amount of shared DNA and the Shared cM Project 4.0 v4 tool at DNA Painter to estimate the relationship.
2. Identify the DNA you share.
3. Use that information to identify your common ancestor
DNA Painter
DNA Painter (www.dnapainter.com) is a fantastic, simple to use tool for chromosome mapping. DNA Painter uses only segment information, not raw DNA data, which ensures more privacy because people cannot see the exact genotypes of the SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in your raw DNA data.
The site may be used for free, for one chromosome map, or a paid subscription will give the user access for advanced options and up to 50 chromosome maps. There are very clear instructions on the website, and you can get started quickly after reading through them.
1. Sign in by creating a username and password.
2. Open a new profile.
3. Click on “Paint A New Match.”
4. Copy the whole page of segment data from 23andMe, FTDNA, MyHeritage, or GEDmatch.
5. Paste the entire page into the “Paint A New Match” box.
6. Answer the prompted questions, including if you know – or don’t yet know -how you are related to the match, and if the match is on your paternal or maternal side.
7. Assign a color to an ancestor or ancestral couple that is the common ancestor between you and your DNA match.
This graphic is a chromosome map made in DNA Painter. The chromosomes are arranged from 1 at the top to 22, and X at the bottom. There are two lines for each chromosome, the top line represents the paternal copy, and the bottom line represents the maternal copy. The colored lines are segments of DNA that have been mapped to a specific ancestral couple. The DNA was identified as coming from each couple because it was shared with a DNA match that has the same common ancestor as the DNA test taker.
Click here to see a YouTube video made by Blaine Bettinger that explains and demonstrates how to use DNA Painter.
Challenges
A challenge you may encounter in mapping your chromosomes is that you may have multiple common ancestors with your DNA matches. If this is the case, you will share more DNA than expected with the DNA match, and it may be more challenging to identify which DNA segments came from a specific ancestor or ancestral couple. Some of the situations you may encounter are the following:
Family tree completeness:
– You may not know if you share multiple ancestors with a DNA match if you have some ancestral lines that are shorter because some ancestors aren’t identified- AKA: dead ends or brick walls.
You may share multiple common ancestors with a cousin:
– If there is pedigree collapse – this happens when related individuals have children. These children have fewer unique ancestors than expected because their parents have some ancestors in common.
– If there is endogamy – this occurs among some geographically isolated populations or populations who choose to marry within the population primarily, and the children inherit DNA that is descended from the founders of the population in multiple ways.
Visual Phasing
Another type of Chromosome map is Visual Phasing. It is a method that can be used to determine which segments of your DNA came from your four grandparents; two maternal grandparents and two paternal grandparents. Visual Phasing is a more time-intensive way to map your chromosomes. The benefit of this method is that you will be able to create a detailed map that identifies DNA segments from each of your four grandparents.
Blaine Bettinger wrote a 5-part series of instructions on how to do Visual Phasing. https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2016/11/21/visual-phasing-an-example-part-1-of-5/ Some of the starting requirements are that you need a set of 3 siblings, determination, focus, and patience. The goal is to map crossover points in your chromosomes. These are points on the chromosome where DNA from your grandparents has switched places or recombined.
Steven Fox wrote a program in Excel that helps automate the process of Visual Phasing. The program can be found in the “Visual Phasing Working Group” on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/visualphasing/
Chromosome Mapping using DNA Painter and Visual Phasing techniques can help further your DNA and genealogy research. Chromosome mapping can help you find out more about your DNA and the ancestors who passed it on to you. Try these tools as you Research Like a Pro with DNA!
Other articles in the Research Like a Pro with DNA series:
Step 1 Take a DNA Test: Which DNA Test Should I Take? and DNA-Recommended Testing Strategy
Step 2 Assess: Understanding and Using Your DNA Results – 4 Simple Steps
Step 3 Organize: Seeing the Big Picture: 3 Ways to Chart Your DNA Matches
Step 4 Research Objective: What Do You Want to Know? 3 Steps to Focus Your DNA Research
Step 5 Analyze your Sources: DNA Sources, Information, and Evidence: Sorting it All Out
Step 6 Locality Research: Where in the World Has My DNA Traveled? DNA and Locality Research
Step 7 Research Planning: Genealogy Research Planning with DNA
Methodology and Tools to use as you plan your research:
– Charts for Understanding DNA Inheritance
– Clustering or Creating Genetic Networks
– Pedigree Triangulation
– Chromosome Browsers
– Segment Triangulation
– Chromosome Mapping – You Are Here
– DNA Gedcom
Step 8 Source Citations: DNA Source Citations
Step 9 Research Logs: DNA Research Logs: how to Keep Track of Genetic Genealogy Searches
Step 10 Report Writing: DNA Research Reports – the Ultimate Finish
Step 11 What’s Next? Continue Your Research & Writing, Productivity, and Education
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