Ancestry Compare Tool New for Shared DNA Matches

The Ancestry compare tool for shared DNA matches is brand new and another cool upgrade in a slew of new tools available on Ancestry.com. Just the latest in a string of upgrades and innovations, this Ancestry compare tool allows users to cross reference the amount of DNA cMs (centiMorgans) they have with any of their shared matches.

You can find this new feature under the “DNA” drop down tab by following the “Your DNA Results Summary” link. Once on the AncestryDNA Results page, you will notice a small “Compare” icon underneath each of your matches, this is the Ancestry compare tool!

You should also notice that below each of your matches you will see the amount of shared DNA between the both of you. As previously mentioned, these are given in centiMorgans, the standard unit of measure in genetics – visit the glossary on the ISOGG website to understand centiMorgans (cMs) as the scientific concept of chromosome mapping and genetic distance.

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You can also read my article on Understanding Basic Genetics: Making Sense of Genes, Genomes, and Chromosomes right here on the Family History Foundation.

Understanding Basic Genetics: Making Sense of Genes, Genomes, and Chromosomes

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Using the Question Icon

This is fantastic because while Ancestry has definitely lead the industry in terms combining the power of DNA test results with actual genealogical research, it has lacked in its ability for users to browse their own chromosomes as is possible on competitor sites like Family Tree DNA. I believe this new Ancestry compare tool is the beginning of their eventual remedying of that problem.

Clicking on the tiny QUESTION icon opens up a comparison chart which provides you with a general explanation of the terms degrees of separation and genetic distance.

This new Ancestry compare tool definitely helps you to understand the list of matches (possible relationships) that are being displayed on your results page. This is increasingly imperative as you venture into the labyrinth of matches that await you beyond the first page!

Using the Compare Icon

Once you click on the “Compare” icon for any of your matches you will be taken to a separate page that presents those results. I like the little header at the top that overlays your user profile picture along side your match with the interlocking circles conjoining the two. To me it is reminiscent of the mathematical concept of an ‘intersection’ (∩), which, in essence, is essentially what it is!

At the heart of this new Ancestry compare tool are 2 cool, yet utilitarian, features.

Ethnicity Estimates Chart

The first is the Ethnicity Estimates overlap chart. This breaks down what percent of each ethnic category you have in common, and even those that you don’t that are mutually exclusive. The chart displays your totals, your match’s totals and a bar graph for the portions where there is shared DNA.

Really cool! For example, for parent and child relationship this might display as you having 25% of an ethnicity while your parent might have 48%. You might also see percentages that your parent has that you did not inherit!

Ethnicity Estimates Map

The second is the map version of the chart. As a visual person and someone who loves maps and flags, I absolutely think this is sensational! Right off the bat you can see where your DNA lies with respect to that of the person you match. Boom!

While that is all warm and fuzzy cool, to unlock the true power of this new Ancestry compare tool, one must consider how it works with all of our far-flung, distant cousin matches.

Close matches should produce fairly expected results; well how about all of those 7th, 7th, and 8th cousins out there? Who the heck are they? How do they fit in to our genetic makeup?

Comparing Unlinked Family Trees

Previously, users were kind of in the dark about who all these pages of genetic matches were, most of whom don’t have any family tree listed on Ancestry. That was source of consternation to many! Not for much longer. The volume and anonymity of our distant matches can now be interpreted via this Ancestry compare tool!

Everyone, and I mean everyone, on Ancestry has a match that says “No Trees” or “Unlinked Tree” or even worse a private family tree. This new Ancestry compare tool is a work-around to try to figure out how you might be related.

Simply click on the compare icon and let the page decipher it for you! You can get a rough idea on which side of the family you are related by simply comparing the ethnicity estimate percentages or looking at the regions on the map.

You can also continue to use the Shared Matches feature which is automatically displayed at the bottom of this new page.

Ancestry has sure stepped up to the plate recently with a bunch of new innovations that were long overdue. While there may be other DNA testing sites out there with more users and the ability to browse specific segments of your chromosome, no one can touch Ancestry.com in terms of being able to interface with genetic matches and to conduct genealogical research (build family trees and dig through archival records) all in one place! This new Ancestry compare tool for shared DNA matches is the wave of the future on an upward trend.