When I first developed DNA Color Clustering, I thought Ancestry.com’s “4th cousin” matches would not share enough DNA to be helpful. I was afraid the resulting chart would be too messy.
I was wrong!
The key? Create the clusters based on 2nd and 3rd cousins (who share between 90 and 400 cM), and then add high “4th cousins” into these already created clusters.
Step 1: Create a DNA Color Cluster chart using the Leeds Method.
REMINDER: Use AncestryDNA’s 2nd & 3rd cousins matches who share less than 400 cM with the test taker to create a color cluster chart using Excel. (See “The Leeds Method” for more details.)
Example of Color Clustering where test taker’s DNA sorted into four clusters plus one unclustered, purple match, Drew
If a test taker’s 4 grandparents are not closely related and descendants from all 4 sets of great grandparents have tested at AncestryDNA, DNA Color Clustering should result in 4 columns which are related to the 4 sets of great grandparents.
Note: In this example using real data, Mona (in red print) sorted into TWO columns. She is likely related to the test taker through BOTH the yellow and orange families.
Step 2: Identify the Color Clusters, if possible.
The “C” stands for “cluster”
In this case, we were able to determine the relationship of the test taker to the 4 clusters (C1 through C4). We did not identify the unclustered purple match, Drew.
Note: If you cannot identify some (or any) of these groups, you can skip this step for now.
Step 3: Add some 4th cousin matches and sort those 4th cousins into the already created Color Clusters.
Below the original Color Clustering, I wrote the names of the test taker’s first ten “4th cousin” matches (in gray boxes). For each person, I opened the Shared Matches and looked to see which 2nd and 3rd cousin names they matched with and assigned them into that Color Cluster.
Teresa, in red, did not have any 2nd or 3rd cousins in her shared matches. She has not been assigned into a Color Cluster at this point.
Note: This is not proof that they are related to that branch of your family, but it is a strong clue!
Step 4: Sort 4th cousins who do not match a 2nd or 3rd cousin by looking at the 4th cousin’s Shared Matches for possible 2nd or 3rd cousin matches.
One 4th cousin match, Teresa (in red print), did not have a cousin within the 2nd and 3rd cousin matches. But, when I opened the shared matches of her closest match, she matched Mona. Since Mona is in the Orange & Yellow Clusters, Teresa was assigned to both clusters.
NOTE: One of the best things about this method? Your matches do NOT have to have FAMILY TREES, yet this method STILL WORKS!
38 Comments
Leave your reply.