Autosomal DNA Research

The purpose of this page is to document our research related to Autosomal DNA.  Autosomal DNA research involves analyzing the 22 pairs of autosomal chromosomes you inherit equally from both parents.  By comparing DNA segments, these tests can identify individuals who share a common ancestor, helping to build family trees and trace lineages.   Autosomal DNA tests are generally accurate for tracing ancestry back about five to six generations. Beyond that, the shared DNA segments become smaller and more difficult to analyze.   

Autosomal DNA is measured in centimorgans (cMs), which represent the probability of a recombination event occurring between two points on a chromosome. Essentially, it's a way to measure genetic distance and the likelihood of genes being inherited together.  In DNA testing, centimorgans are used to estimate the amount of shared DNA between individuals and to predict relationships.  Larger cM values generally indicate closer relationships, with a maximum of around 3,500 cM shared with a parent or child. Different DNA testing companies use varying thresholds for reporting matches, but 7-10 cM is a common minimum for Autosomal DNA.

We hope to use Autosomal DNA to expand our family tree backward by finding connections with whom we may share common ancestors.