WikiTree and My Mitochondrial DNA

After taking a mitochondrial DNA test and reviewing your results at Family Tree DNA, you might wonder what else you can do with it. Perhaps you took the mtDNA test to compare with a descendant of a hypothesized ancestor. Or, you might have taken the mtDNA test to see your haplogroup. By adding your matrilineal line to the collaborative Wiki Tree, you can also add your mtDNA haplogroup, which will then populate the profile of every female ancestor with that unique DNA inheritance. That haplogroup will also populate any descendants of each ancestor who would have received that mtDNA. This is powerful and enables us to share this DNA information with other family members.

About WikiTree

Wikitree.com is always free but requires a login. The home page explains that this is a single family tree where users “work together, carefully evaluate sources, and incorporate DNA.” Any modern family history is private. Wiki Tree has been in the genealogy world for fifteen years and now has over a million members.

You can participate in WikiTree without signing the Wiki Genealogist Honor Code, but if you’re serious about using WikiTree at a higher level, you’ll need to read and sign. The honor code discusses collaboration, respecting privacy and copyrights, giving credit, and citing sources. WikiTree has six levels of privacy for a profile that you can edit at any time: unlisted, private, private with public biography, private with public family tree, private with public biography and family tree, public, and open. The public and open privacy options are not available for living people. Wiki Tree encourages collaboration and open profiles.

Anyone can search for an ancestor on WikiTree and add sources and information. For example, I found the profile of my ancestor, Martin S. Shults (1793-1854). The open lock in the upper right corner lets me know that this profile can be edited. I can add descendants and connect to my Shults line. I can add sources, images, and stories. Once I have connected to Martin, my name will be listed under the DNA connections on the right. Adding your DNA information is completely optional, but in my opinion, a key reason to be on WikiTree.

Getting Started

WikiTree has a lot going on, but you can get started without knowing everything. You can start with a video: What is WikiTree? Another great video is Welcome to WikiTree by Leanne Cooper. You’ll create your log in and profile, which can be edited at any time. Then, you can start adding your ancestors. WikiTree will allow uploading a Gedcom, but you’ll need to verify each profile, so many people choose to build their tree from the ground up. No profile can be added without a source.

Adding DNA Information

What makes WikiTree unique is the ability to add DNA information. You don’t upload raw DNA, but you can add your GEDmatch kit number, Y-DNA and mtDNA haplogroups, and note where you have tested your DNA, such as Ancestry DNA, MyHeritage, or Family Tree DNA.  This can help other people to find you on those websites.

I’ve tested my mitochondrial DNA and wrote about my matrilineal grandmothers in “Honoring my Matrilineal Grandmothers: A Look at Mitochondrial DNA.” I wanted to add my mitochondrial haplogroup to my profile on WikiTree so it could benefit other descendants of these ancestors.

To add DNA information, click the “ADD button in the top right corner and select “DNA Test Information.”

You can add tests from 23andm3, Ancestry DNA, FamilyTree DNA ( autosomal, mtDNA, and Y-DNA), Living DNA, and mitoYDNA. You can also add GEDmatch ID’s for any tests you’ve uploaded there. Once those are added, your DNA will appear on any of the appropriate ancestors. I added each of these tests – remember you don’t upload DNA. You just mark that you’ve taken the test so others can look for you on that testing site.

I also added my mitochondrial haplogroup, which will now populate through eight generations of my tree and then go down through all the male or female lines. The screenshot below shows my great-grandmother’s profile with our mtDNA haplogroup and my kit number under DNA Connections on the right.  The mtDNA haplogroup also appears on the profiles of my children, as they inherited that DNA from me.

 

One of WikiTree’s neat features is the DNA Ancestors view, which shows which ancestor you inherited different types of DNA from: Y-DNA (if male), mtDNA, autosomal, and the X chromosome.

 

I’m looking forward to exploring WikiTree and using DNA to make more progress on my family tree.

Best of luck in all your genealogical endeavors!