Color-coding helps visualize the Top Ancestor DNA Supports (TADs).
Quick visual
Orange = DNA Match Blue = Top Ancestor DNA Supports (TADs) Pink = DNA path
The visual above quickly tells me the following:
- Orange (Maynard) is a DNA match to at least one of the DNA kits that I manage.
- Blue shows the Top Ancestor DNA Supports (which ancestors are genetically confirmed as related to the Orange person).
- On the paternal branch, there are DNA matches that prove all of Maynard's great-grandparents (i.e., Hans Olsen).
- On the maternal branch, I have confirmed that John Henry Anderson is genetically Maynard's grandparent, but haven't been able to confirm Hans & Kari, his great-grandparents (no color coding).
- Pink demonstrates the DNA path that supports the Top Ancestor DNA Supports (TADs).
- On the maternal branch, I have been able to genetically confirm beyond his great-grandparents.
The Process
Step 1: Genelogy tool & DNA Matches
Several genealogy applications allow for color-coding persons. I'm using RootsMagic 11 for this demonstration.
DNA Matches are available through many companies such as Ancestry or GEDMatch. I color code Orange any Person who is a DNA Match to any of the kits I manage (currently 14 kits) or whose DNA match list I have access to (another 4 kits).
Step 2: Color Code DNA Matches Orange
Persons marked Orange are DNA Matches to at least one of the DNA kits that I manage. For this example, Maynard, a great-uncle of mine, is both a DNA match to me, and also someone whose DNA kit I manage.
For me, the Orange coloration makes these connections pop out.
Step 3: Color Code TADs Blue
Since Maynard is a a great-uncle, his parents are my great-grandparents. This means that the Top Ancestors that we both share are Birger Maurud & his wife, Tilla Anderson. Color code TADs Blue.
Step 4: Color Code DNA Path Pink
My connection (DNA Path) to Birger Maurud is through both one of my parents and my grandmother, Delores. Since I have not DNA tested either my parent or my grandmother, I can't definitively say that my Parent or my grandmother are DNA Matches; however, the amount of DNA I share with Maynard aligns our documented relationship of him being a great-uncle to me.
Color coding my grandmother and my parent as Pink visually communicates to me that this is the DNA path that links the two DNA Matches (Orange) to the TADs (Blue).
Step 5: Continue process for remaining DNA Matches
After all my DNA Matches have been color-coded, when generating an ancestor chart for Maynard, it's now easy to see which ancestors I've connnected both genetically and through documentational evidence.
Note as well that while Maynard and myself sharing DNA resulted in color-coding Birger Maurud (and wife, Tilla) initially as Blue, further matches changed the TADs.
Next Steps
Pulling together a TADs color-coded visual can help generate your next genealogy quest.
Quest Example 1
Who could be genetically tested to confirm that Hans Anderson was the biological father of John Henry Anderson?
John Henry Anderson's siblings' descendants DNA testing could validate the genetic relationship.
Quest Example 2
For the TADs Han Olsen & Berte Jacobsdatter, which descendant branches have been genetically confirmed based on the DNA Matches I have included in my tree (documentationally evidenced)?
This display helps point out areas of potential future focus. I might go back and double check how much documentation I have to support any of the children who have No Color, such as Agnethe Hansdatter. In other cases, it has shown where one line is connected in more than one way, such as a Double Cousin, which then prompts a recheck of the evidence including confidence in the DNA centimorgans shared.
Hope this approach helps at least one person on the next step of their genealogy journey!
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