confirming that the DNA match numbers are actual not assumed ie. 4th GGmother 1.56%

Question

confirming that the DNA match numbers are actually numbers not assumed ie. 4th GGmother 1.56%. I want to know that my DNA from ancestry, FTDNA, and mtDNA are showing the correct percentage beside each ancestor, not an assumed number based on the relationship in the tree.

Comments

The numbers are theoretical, based on the assumption you inherit 50% from each parent. The reality is that you could inherit more or less than this theoretical amount, perhaps even none, due the actual nature of the process. If you do a google search on this topic you can find some charts that will show the probability of inheriting a specific amount if DNA, these charts all center on the theoretical amounts.

Although I have had my DNA tested, I feel no need to do much with it.

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Since I am unable to do a YDNA search based on a different YDNAY700  surname, I uploaded my YDNAFTDNA, my mtDNA, and my GEDmatch to see if the female line ( married into my male line) shows up as my ancestors. However, now based on your answer their % of matched DNA is not correct just an assumption based on information that has been entered as relatives listed in our tree. So why does WIKI ask us to upload these DNA tests?  I was looking for " actual" DNA connections, should I look elsewhere?

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Great answer, George

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Yes, to find actual matches you will have to use sites like Gedmatch or your original testing site.

Answer 1

Wikitree doesn't store any actual DNA data; the percentages you see on the "DNA Connections" panel are simply estimates of the amount of DNA you might share with someone based on your relationship  shown in your tree.  In order to actually compare DNA with someone you must use a third-party site like Gedmatch.

Comments

Thank you, I did upload my GEDmatch to WIKI so I am assuming it does not affect the actual DNA % on my WIKI tree. I will go back to GEDmatch. Thank you

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Wikitree only collects and stores information on the DNA test or tests you have taken and where you have uploaded your actual DNA data.  Including your Gedmatch number on your Wikitree profile will help potential matches make comparisons.  That information is intended to help you find potential DNA matches, not to do the actual matching.

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In other words, it will alert you when there is another WikiTree member who MIGHT be a match to you, and on which site you need to look for that match. For a relative who is 2C1R or closer, it's pretty much a 100% chance that they'll match, but it drops as you get more distantly related.

Sometimes it's WikiTree that will tell you how you are related to a match - your match might not have identifying information on a given site.

For GEDmatch, putting your GEDmatch ID on WikiTree also serves to automatically provide your WikiTree ancestry to GEDmatch users, so they don't have to email you to try to find out how you're related to them.