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Autosomal DNA tools

From ISOGG Wiki


Note that this list is provided for information only. Inclusion on this list does not imply recommendation or endorsement by ISOGG.

DNA tools by types of input data

DNA tools use different types of input data:

Raw DNA data tools DNA match results Manual Input

These raw DNA data tools use raw DNA data files. Major DNA testing services like AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and FamilyTreeDNA allow customers to download raw DNA data files. These files contain the “letters” (nucleotides A, C, G, T) that comprise DNA.

These tools use the genetic matches that show up on specific websites like AncestryDNA and Family Tree DNA.

Some tools require a user to manually input genetic data.

Using Raw DNA data

See list of raw DNA data tools.

Using DNA match results

These tools use the DNA match results or segment match data for genetic relatives from autosomal DNA testing companies.

  • ConnectedDNA A commercial service providing network graphs from match data to visualise clusters of matches. For full details see the review ConnectedDNA and graph views by Debbie Parker Wayne
  • Autosomal DNA utility A free tool provided by Wesley Erickson. It allows the user to compare multiple matches at 23andMe or Family Tree DNA in a single chromosome browser.
  • DNAGedcom This site was created by Rob Warthen to help users quickly analyze their data. This site and related tools allows you to download data from FTDNA, Ancestry and 23andMe. In addition, it has the ability to compare many Gedcoms at one time through the GWorks utility. The Autosomal DNA Segment Analysizer provides a visual representation of your Family Finder matches and the overlapping segments. Additional tools are available for a small fee from the DNA Gedcom Client which allows the user to download a list of AncestryDNA matches with centiMorgan data and pedigrees. The information from here can then be uploaded to DNAGedcom and your matches Ancestors are then compared through the GWorks utility.
  • DNA Match Labelling A Google Chrome extension which allows the use to add coloured dots to assign matches to different groups. For a description see the article by Gail Dever New DNA labelling tool for Ancestry users on Chrome. TinyURL : https://tinyurl.com/MatchLabeling.
  • DNA Painter A free website created by Jonny Perl which allows the user to map DNA segments and identify patterns in the data. Additional tools available to subscribers.
  • DNA Painter Shared cM tool A tool that provides relationship estimates and probabilities based on entered cM values.
  • DNA-Sci.com A variety of tools providing by Brit Nicholson for predicting relationships from autosomal DNA data and estimating DNA coverage like SegcM (Relationship predictions that use both the # of segments and total cMs), Double Cousin Orogen (taking into account differences between maternal and paternal relationships), Percentage of Reproduced Ancestral DNA, Are Your Parents Related? (AYPR) ciM.
  • HAPI-DNA Tools and resources for genetic genealogists provided by Amy Williams of Cornell University. As of November 2020 two tools are available: a tool for simulating shared segments and a maternal and paternal relative detector.
  • DNA Pool Analyser from Gigatrees A tool from Tim Forsythe which lets you "combine all your autosomal DNA matches from your various testing companies and validates that the shared segment lengths provided are consistent with the relationships found in your database. When no relationship is found, the most probable one is suggested."
  • Double Match Triangulator A free program provided by Louis Kessler
  • GEDmatch A free utility to compare autosomal DNA data files from all three testing companies and to compare Gedcom files. A number of other very useful tools are also provided, some for a fee.
  • Genetic Affairs Genetic Affairs provides a tool which automates the retrieval of new genetic matches for 23andme, FamilyTreeDNA and AncestryDNA and presents all updates in a single e-mail. The first 200 credits are free. There is also an automatic clustering feature. For a review see the article Automatic clustering from Genetic Affairs by Kitty Cooper.
  • Genealogical DNA Analysis Tool A tool for comparing autosomal DNA data and identifying common ancestors developed by Becky Walker, a 23andMe member and a programmer.
  • Graphs for Genealogists Tools provided by David Stumpf for visualising DNA matches.
  • MapsS Europe A tool for advanced genetic genealogists which provides the facility to analyse segment data, calculate genetic distance and convert between builds 36 and 37
  • MatchCompare A free Excel tool for finding in common with and not in common with matches.
  • NodeXL A free Excel template which can be used to visualise AncestryDNA matches. See the detailed tutorial from Shelley Crawford
  • Overlapping segments viewer A tool provided by Staffan Betnér for comparing all matching segments for all matches based on Family Finder data.
  • Pedigree Thief A Chrome extension which reads pedigree trees (Geni and MyHeritage) and converts them to an Ahnentafel format. It will also read information on matches from MyHeritage as well as adding a couple of utilities to some GedMatch web pages.
  • Progeny Charting Companion Family tree software which includes a number of tools for working with DNA matches (DNA Matrix, DNA Simulation and DNA Matches)
  • Relationship Estimator App A free utility provided by the DNA Adoption team.
  • What Are The Odds? Probability Tool at DNA Painter A free tool that uses an easy, mathematical approach to figuring out where someone belongs in a tree.
  • WikiTree does DNA backwards. Users enter their DNA test information and WikiTree populates your shared ancestor profiles with their DNA. Imagine looking for an ancestor and finding DNA cousins too! DNA Features for the Global Family Tree.
  • Your DNA Family A suite of tools for analysing autosomal DNA results. The app currently works with data from 23andMe.

Using manually input data

  • Genoplot genetic ancestry visualization (Admixture Calculators, Monte Carlo Simulations, PCA Plots, Eurogenes G25) consumer genomics platform
  • Vahaduo App Gallery collection of tools for admixture and PCA analysis based on multivariate input data (Eurogenes G25).
  • Geography of Genetic Variants Browser See the preprint Visualising the geography of genetic variants by Joseph Marcus and John November for a detailed explanation.
  • Segment Calculator A spreadsheet provided by Brian Densmore which allows the user to calculate the odds of a segment being shared by cousins in families of different sizes.
  • Autosomal DNA Half Life Equation for autosomal DNA (atDNA) Genetic Distance (cousin level) calculations for each segment. Can be input into an Excel spreadsheet or calculated within a program. Can also be modified for segment sums, etc. The output from the equation can be used as Genetic Distance for the Kitsch program within the PHYLIP package. Multiple trees can be combined with the TreeDist program within the PHYLIP package. Works with individual segments in cMs or use the modified equation for total sums in cMs.

Using GEDCOM files

  • DNAGedcom A free utility to compare Ancestry Match files, FTDNA Trees and other Gedcoms for common ancestors. The tool is called GWorks on the DNAGedcom web site.
  • GEDmatch A free utility to compare autosomal DNA data files from all three testing companies and to compare Gedcom files. A number of other very useful free tools are also provided. Additional tools available for a small fee.
  • Learnforever Learn B F Lyons' Exploring Family Trees site allows a user to upload a GEDCOM file to produce a visualisation of pedigree collapse. For further details see the review article The “Exploring Family Trees” Tool by Leah Larkin (The DNA Geek blog, 3 January 2016).

Mobile apps

Communities

No longer available/supported/maintained

  • 529andYou A Google Chrome extension for use with data from 23andMe. For details see the reviews by Kitty Cooper and Rebecca Walker
  • 23++ ("Customers tested in 2014 or later are on the new site and cannot benefit from the extension") A Google Chrome extension for use with data from 23andMe. For details see the 23++ Blog (domain no longer exists)
  • AncestryDNA Helper A Google Chrome extension provided by Jeff Snavely which adds search functionality and allows you to extract and download a spreadsheet of your matches. Discontinued in July 2019. See this blog post on the Data Mining DNA blog.
  • Ancestry match Connect and share photos/videos with DNA matches across the globe. Posted as coming soon
  • Athletigen (Tool no longer available to individuals, only a waitlist) A tool using 23andMe which gave you a report on athletic performance
  • Autosomal (atDNA) Relationship Prediction Utility free by Gliesian, LLC. (Domain name now up for sale)
  • DNADNA Free to use software for genetic genealogy visualisation. Currently works with AncestryDNA data <---Link broken
  • DNA.Land A website run by a team of academics. Uploads were accepted from five companies. The site offered a biogeographical analysis, imputation, relative-matching feature, importing data from Geni.com, and a relatives of relatives report.
  • DNA Match Manager A free tool from Heirloom Software that allows you to download your DNA match information from Ancestry (multiple tests supported), 23andMe, Family Tree DNA and GedMatch (multiple tests supported). (Non-functioning website)
  • DNA Match Manager Helper A free tool provided by Monty Williams to create a sortable summary spreadsheet from DNA Match Manager output files. (Non-functioning website)
  • FTDNA Ged to GEDCOM converter This site is no longer available with the change to FTDNA format. DNAGedcom will be providing an updated tool for this feature.
  • Reweighter of Family Finder matches list A free tool provided by Staffan Betnér which strips out the small pseudosegments under 7 cM to give a more realistic total of the shared cM. The tool was deactivated after FTDNA updated their matching algorithms to remove the small segments.
  • GedMatch Plus (Chrome extension no longer exists) A free Google Chrome browser extension provided by Felix Immanuel which automatically cached your one-to-many, one-to-one, and X one-to-many analyses for seven days and helped to reduce the load on the servers.
  • Genes and Us (domain no longer exists) A free service which allowed users to upload their 23andMe data to see which genes and traits they are likely to pass on to their children.
  • MedBetterDNA A Chrome extension which enhances the AncestryDNA match system. It allows you to see the full notes on the match list rather than the default two-line view. It also allows you to filter matches using up to 100 hashtags in your notes.
  • Genetic genealogy tools ("ceased developing Genetic Genealogy Tools") A selection of genetic genealogy tools provided by Felix Immanuel in Adelaide, South Australia. The tools included a Build 36 to 37 converter for autosomal raw data files and a 23andMe genes converter.
  • Ian Logan's minor allele program. (broken link) A program which identifies rare and uncommon SNPs. The program was designed to work with the v3 Illumina chip used by 23andMe and Family Tree DNA's Family Finder test.

Further reading

Scientific papers

See also