ABCs of DNA | Coverage Analysis for Genealogical Research

The ABCs of DNA is an ongoing series of in-depth presentations on various DNA topics, presented by well-known speakers as well as knowledgeable AGS members.

Topic: Coverage Analysis for Genealogical Research

Presenter: Paul Woodbury

Description: Different descendants of a research subject inherit different portions of that ancestor’s DNA. They share different amounts of DNA with key genetic cousins on different shared DNA segments and may have different pertinent genetic cousins altogether. By working with the test results of multiple descendants of a research subject, it is possible to maximize the active and accessible coverage of an ancestor’s DNA and better estimate how closely related an ancestor might have been to key genetic cousins and descendants of close potential relatives of a research subject. In this class, learn how to apply coverage estimates to segment comparisons between multiple kits and estimate how much DNA a research subject might have shared with pertinent genetic cousins and their ancestors