{"id":1854,"date":"2020-07-09T21:50:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T01:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nebula.org\/blog\/?p=1854"},"modified":"2023-07-05T17:40:38","modified_gmt":"2023-07-05T21:40:38","slug":"gedmatch-tutorial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nebula.org\/blog\/gedmatch-tutorial\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use GEDmatch – The Complete Tutorial to Finding Relatives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GEDmatch introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

GEDmatch is a primarily free genealogy site that lets users upload their own autosomal DNA test results and find related individuals. It was founded by Curtis Roger in 2010. The powerful GEDmatch Genesis tool finds matching segments of DNA in it\u2019s 1.3 million users regardless of which company the original data is from. Users can upload data from a wide variety of sites, letting people find family members even if one used 23andMe and the other used AncestryDNA. There are also other DNA tools that let you explore your ancestry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the major drawbacks of GEDmatch is that it is not designed for the novice user. That\u2019s what this tutorial is for: We\u2019ll walk you through how to sign up for free, upload your raw DNA data from other DNA testing sites, how to look at your ancestry, and explore your family relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you interested in decoding 100% of your DNA for more accurate ancestry results and more DNA matches with relatives? Nebula Genomics offers a Whole Genome Sequencing DNA test for only $299! Click here to learn more!<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Is GEDmatch safe?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

GEDmatch is not going to give you inaccurate medical information that may cause you to erroneously seek medical care as it isn\u2019t going to offer you any medical or health information at all. It also does not tout itself as the most accurate and precise measure of ethnicity. The admixture\/heritage tools pull data from many different sources and your results will vary depending on which project you select.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you start uploading your genetic data to random websites, you should know more about who is receiving that data. GEDmatch is currently owned by Verogen, a forensic genomics company. Verogen makes money, in part, by allowing law enforcement to use their genealogy database to solve crimes. This might mean that your DNA could help identify a victim of a crime \u2014 or the criminal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to sign up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Registration is straightforward. Go to the registration page and fill in your name, alias if you\u2019d rather your name not appear publicly, email, and password. Your email and password will be your GEDmatch login.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The email needs to be valid as GEDmatch will send a validation code. Be aware that this email will be visible to other users if you choose to use the central one-to-many DNA matching tool. Although your real name is requested, this does not seem to be validated. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The GEDmatch user registration page requires an email that will be viewable by other users.
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to upload data to GEDmatch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

GEDmatch does not offer DNA testing, only interpretation of existing DNA results. Therefore, you will need to download your data from whatever SNP based testing company you submitted a sample to. You can either search \u201chow to download raw genetic data from\u201d and the name of your testing company or go directly to the tutorials from Ancestry DNA<\/a>, 23 and Me<\/a>, or Family Tree DNA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on where your testing was done, you may download a single file or a folder. This will likely be \u201cgzipped\u201d which makes it take up less space but makes it so only a computer can read it. To \u201cunzip\u201d it, and make it readable by a human, on a Mac, double click on it or, on a PC, right-click and click \u201cunzip\u201d. You can now open it in WordPad or Excel. Nebula users should use a text editor when opening these files to ensure all the data is shown.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GEDmatch will only accept what it calls \u201c23andMe format\u201d. This differs from \u201cVariant Call Format\u201d or \u201cVCF\u201d. GEDmatch will not accept .vcf files. You might be able to directly download a file in 23andMe format. If you are only able to download a VCF, check out this tutorial<\/a> (scroll down to the part titled \u201cConverting VCF Files to 23andMe Files\u201d). Nebula Genomics customers should follow the instructions to use WGS Extract to generate 23andMe-format file.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GEDmatch will not accept full exomes or genomes. They also recommend against uploading imputed data where a computer has tried to guess what your DNA might have been in between the SNPs that were actually tested. You should upload only raw SNP data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GEDmatch will check if the file is in the right format and reject it if it\u2019s not. If you want to check that the file is 23andMe format yourself you can open it in Wordpad or Excel. It will likely have some lines at the top that start with a hashtag, these are ignored by the computer. The rest will look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

# rsid\tchromosome\tposition\tgenotype<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rs3094315\t1\t752566\tAA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rs3131972\t1\t752721\tGA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rs75333668 1 762320 CC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rsID is the name of the SNP, chromosome, and position are where the SNP is found, and genotype is what the SNP is at that position. There are two letters, one from each parent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, you can upload your genetic information to GEDmatch. This button is on the right-hand side of the homepage, marked in the red box below, and says \u201cGeneric Uploads (23andMe,  FTDNA, AncestryDNA, Living DNA and most others)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"On
On the right side of the GEDmatch home page is the index that includes a link to upload your DNA files.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the following page, it\u2019s recommended to fill out as much information as you have. However, the only necessary boxes are a name and that you click the radio button stating that you\u2019re authorized to upload the data (because it\u2019s yours, you have their permission, the person is dead, or you\u2019re law enforcement). Everything else is optional. If you don\u2019t know the answer, leave it blank.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The GEDmatch user must have appropriate authorization to upload DNA data to GEDmatch.
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The very last set of questions is optional but important to answer. This is asking for the privacy preferences for this DNA profile, also called a \u201cDNA kit\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The default option is \u201cOpt-in\u201d which will let law enforcement access your data for criminal searches. It\u2019s important to note that GEDmatch has been used to identify criminals by finding even distantly related family members. GEDmatch was used to solve the Golden State Killer cold case by matching DNA from the crime scene to a third or fourth cousin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I chose to \u201cOpt-out\u201d which lets me compare my kit to others and lets individuals who are not law enforcement find me. Other options include research, which lets you see matches but does not let the matches see you, or private, which will not allow you to find family members using the Genesis tool but will let you use other ancestry tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you opt-out or choose to keep the data private, GEDmatch will still turn the data over to law enforcement if a court subpoenas the information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GEDmatch
GEDmatch users can opt-out of having their DNA used in law enforcement searches and still be visible to possible familial matches.
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click \u201cChoose File\u201d, find the file on your computer, and then click \u201cupload\u201d. Once you\u2019ve added your file, it may take several minutes for the upload to occur. Do not leave the page or hit refresh. The time will depend on how big your genomic data file is and how good your upload speeds are. If it takes more than ten minutes, you should try again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your file is too big and slow to upload you can re-zip it. On a Mac, ctrl+click the file name and select \u201cCompress\u201d. On a PC, left click, select \u201cSend to\u201d and select \u201cCompressed (Zipped) Folder\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll then see some large green numbers counting up, checking that each of your chromosomes was found in your file, and then it\u2019ll give you your \u201ckit number\u201d. You\u2019ll need this for all of the analysis on GEDmatch. Don\u2019t worry too much about writing it down somewhere safe, it\u2019ll show up on the home page and you can copy and paste it from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The user cannot go back to the GEDmatch home page without confirming that they understand that the one-to-many tool will not be available for 24-48 hours.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In order to go back to the home page, you\u2019ll need to answer GEDmatch\u2019s question, \u201cWhen will my kit be available for one-to-many tool?\u201d with \u201cTypically within 24 to 48 hours\u201d. This is the GEDmatch strategy for keeping you from emailing them and asking why you can\u2019t find your results yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

GEDmatch\u2019s one-to-many tool takes a while to run because it has to compare your DNA to the DNA of all 1.3 Million users. Don\u2019t worry, though, there are other tools to play with while you wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to look at your Admixture\/Heritage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
The user will need their kit number (green box) to use the admixture tool (red box).
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To look at your Admixture (heritage), you\u2019ll need to find your kit number. Mine is highlighted in the green rectangle on the left above. You can write this down or just copy to paste it later. Then, click on \u201cAdmixture (heritage)\u201d on the right of the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admixture analysis works by matching chunks of your SNPs to a set of references. It\u2019s important that you\u2019re comparing to the right set of references. Otherwise, the program might try to force a match that isn\u2019t actually accurate, but it\u2019s the closest it has, and miss out on a match it could have made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The GEDmatch MDLP Project is a good broad global calculator for most users.
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This spreadsheet<\/a> contains a comprehensive list of each of the populations in each project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MDLP<\/strong><\/a> is good as a broad global calculator. It pulls data from all around the world. MDLP world and MDLP world-22 are useful for anyone wanting to get a broad look at their ancestry. MDLp world-22 includes Pygmy, West-Asian, North European Mesolithic (an ancient DNA sample), Indo-Tibetan, Mesoamerica, Arctic-Amerind, South-America_Amerind, Indian, North-Siberian, Atlantic_Mediterannean_Neolithic, Samoedic, Indo_Iranian, East-Siberian, North-East-European, South-African, North-Amerind, Subsaharaian, East-South-Asian, Near_East, Melanesian, Paleo-Siberian, and Austronesian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eurogenes<\/strong><\/a> provides a finer map of Europe with the Eurogenes EUtest V2 K15 including North_Sea, Atlantic, Baltic, Eastern_Euro, West_Med, West_Asian, East_Med, Red_Sea, Aouth_Asian, Southeast_Asian, Siberian, Amerindian, Oceania, Northeast African, and Sub-Saharan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dodecad<\/strong><\/a> has a few different groupings that provide good diversity for those with African heritage (Dodecad Africa9 with Europe, NW_Africa, SW_Asia, E_Africa, Mbuti, W_Africa, Baika, and San), or Asian Heritage (Dodecad V3 with East_European, West_European, Mediterranean, Neo_African, West_asian, South_Asian, Northeast_Asian, Southeast_Asian, East_African, Southwest_Asian, Northwest African, and Palaeo_African).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HarappaWorld<\/strong><\/a> is targeted for South Asian Ancestry and includes S-Indian, Baloch, Caucasian, NE-Euro, SE-Asian, Siberian, NE-Asian, Papuan, American, Beringian, Mediterranian, SW-Asian, San (South African Hunter-Gatherers), E-African, Pygmy, and W-African.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ethiohelix<\/strong><\/a> is targeted for those of African Ancestry with Ethiohelix K10 Africa Only containing Nilo-Saharan, East-Africa2, Mbuti-Pygmy, East_Africa1, Khoi-San, West_Africa, Hadza, Biaka-Pygmy, North-Africa, and Omotic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

puntDNAL<\/strong> pulls data from ancient DNA, with puntDNAL K10 Ancient including ASI (Ancient South Indian), Sub-Saharan, Oceania, Beringian, END (Early Neolithic Farmers), CHG (Caucasus Hunter-Gatherers), Siberian, E_Asian WHG (Western European Hunter Gather), and Amerindian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gedrosia<\/strong> also utilizes ancient DNA with the Gedrosia Ancient Eurasia K6 including Ancestral North Eurasian, Ancestral South Eurasian, East_Asian, West European Hunter-Gatherer, Natufian, and Sub_Saharan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The test results can be visualized in multiple ways, including \u201cproportions\u201d which gives a pie chart, or \u201cAdmixture by chromosome\u201d which includes the information about which parts of your chromosomes are identified as coming from each region.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GEDmatch
GEDmatch MDLP World-22 admixture results displayed as proportions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"GEDmatch
GEDmatch MDLP World-22 admixture results displayed as chromosome painting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The pie chart is useful to see what your total ancestry estimates are. The chromosome painting allows you to see which areas of your genome are from what population and helps show a little more of the uncertainty in the estimates \u2014 areas that are multiple colors might come from any of those populations as the populations have similar DNA in that genomic region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to tell if your parents are related<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
The \u201cAre your parents related?\u201d GEDmatch tool sees if your parents are related by comparing your own DNA to itself.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Similar to how GEDmatch lets you find relatives in their DNA database by matching segments of your DNA to theirs, you can check if your parents were related by looking for segments of your own DNA that matches itself. You have two copies of each chromosome, one from each parent. and can compare them to each other. If large chunks match, it\u2019s likely your parents share a recent common ancestor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, my results were pretty boring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"My
My parents are not related, as evidenced by the few small chunks of green matching SNPs in GEDmatch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Red denotes that there was no match, green that there was a match, and blue that there was a long match. Some short matches are expected to happen by chance. Several long matches would indicate that your parents are related. <\/p>\n\n\n\n