Notice: Ancestry.com’s Update Will Remove Some DNA Matches
Earlier this week, Ancestry.com announced on a conference call that they were making several big changes in regards to DNA matches. I was not on that call, but I read about the changes on Debbie Kennett’s Cruwys news website. And, last night I saw an announcement on my own Ancestry account.
These changes will be taking place starting “in the beginning of August,” so you don’t have much time to save matches…if you want to save any!
The Changes
According to the updates, the new changes will affect the following:
More Accurate Number of Shared Segments
This is an update with Ancestry.com’s algorithm and, while you’ll still see the same total amount of shared DNA between you and your matches, you might see the number of segments decrease. This will apparently be more accurate.
See the Length of Your Longest Shared Segment
As another result of the updated algorithm, you will now be able to see “the length of your longest shared segment” between you and your matches.
Distant DNA Matches must be 8 cm or higher
This last change is one that has many people concerned. Ancestry is basically removing our matches who share less than 8 cM of DNA with us. Since the numbers they use are rounded, you will actually lose a lot of your matches who appear to share 8 cM of DNA with you. (For example, if you share 7.7 cM with a match, that would show up as 8…but it is actually less than 8 cM, so it should disappear.)
While many of these low cM matches are “false” matches, many of these matches are also real matches. And, we hate to lose them.
(NOTE: Since these low matches have now been purged from AncestryDNA, I have deleted the remainder of this post explaining how to save your matches.)
Thanks, Dana – good advice for genealogists wanting to preserve info on cousins.
I have Notes on over 4,000 Matches. For the new 6-8cM Matches, I add Notes on the Common Ancestors and also the Match’s line of descent from the CA down to an Ancestor in their Tree. ThruLines often “fills in the blanks” which information would be lost – leaving a gap between the CA and the Match’s Tree. Clicking on the EVALUATE tag in ThruLines usually brings up a wealth of information from other Ancestry Trees, even those who are not DNA Matches. That’s the information I hate to loose…
Thanks, Jim. I had thought about adding the ThruLines path in my notes but was leaning towards screenshots since we don’t have a lot of time. Also, I’m in a GRIP course all week next week – with lots of homework! And, I have 8 tests to work with! If I have time, I’ll add the paths to the notes as that is a lot more handy.
I have over 40 tests to work with. All of these are relatives. I am not a professional genealogist working for others.
I would recommend trying to only save those with ThruLines in that case. And, supposedly, they have extended the “change” date until the beginning of September.
Hi Dana – Thank you for your article. It is so frustrating that Ancestry is embarking on this course. I’ve launched a petition tonight in hopes that Ancestry will realize how many people they are adversely affecting with this change. It would be great if those of like mind would sign: https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ancestry-dont-delete-our-dna-matches
The ThruLine paths may not be available after the new process is in place – so I am copying and pasting the various relevant evaluation links (sometimes there are more than one to generate the possible linkage) into the DNA matches notes for later follow up and using a specific dot for TL small match follow ups.
I have been taking screenshots of the ThruLines paths and will put them in folders based on the ancestral couple.
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I am facing a brick wall. My father’s father (my paternal) grandfather is unknown. My father was fostered and passed away 1965 not knowing his parents or anything about them. I have since found out his mother’s name, but not his father, my paternal grandfather. The time lapse in matching to others in his extended family would mean matching 6-8cm. Either grandfathers family are not testing or they are blocking their data. (It looks like he was the product of an affair).
Hi, Gail. This is a fairly common scenario! Basically, you’ll want to do the Leeds Method and see which clusters represent this unknown paternal grandfather’s side. Then, you look at the trees – or build them if needed – looking for a common ancestor. It could be fairly easy, or very difficult depending on who has tested and who has trees.
I’m not sure why you think you need to look at those 6-8 cM matches. Hopefully, you’ll have some high matches that match this line. For example, if this unknown man had a grandchild who tested, that would be your 1st cousin and you could share up to almost 1400 cM with them! So, the best thing to do is to identify the cluster and then work with anyone who matches that cluster.
Hope this helps!
My 2nd great grandfather was abandoned as a baby. I was hoping to find his parents thru DNA testing. My mom is dead, but used her sister’s, my aunt’s, DNA. I just got it sent in last week and it won’t be back before the end of August to be able to get what I need before they cut off the “less than 8 cM matches”. I am also new to this & it will take me a while to learn all of this to get where I need to be. Ancestry is shooting me in the foot before I even start. I believe your sorting method and articles will help me. Thank you.
Mary, Since Ancestry has delayed deleting our matches until “late August,” I hope that you will get the results back in time. And, hopefully you’ll have the matches you need to solve this mystery! I rarely use these small matches, but they can contain valuable clues or connect you to that cousin who holds the answers you seek. Best wishes!
Newbie needs confirmation: This search will generate a VERY VERY long list of matches, right?
Thanks!
Donna
Hi, Donna. If I’m understanding you correctly, then yes, this will remove a very, very large number of our matches. I calculated my dad will lose about 30,000 out of 60,000 matches! That’s one of the reasons I was suggesting just saving those matches with ThruLines or who are potentially helpful because of some other connection.