GEDmatch in Genealogy Research

GEDmatch was founded in 2010 in order to help "amateur and professional researchers and genealogists", including adoptees searching for birth parents. Users have the option to opt in their DNA to be shared with law enforcement and in 2018 GEDmatch's database was used to identify the Golden State Killer.

GEDmatch does not sell DNA tests, but they allow you to upload your DNA for free from most companies. GEDmatch offers a variety of tools on both its free and subscription version (called Tier 1). Currently GEDmatch allows users to manage up to five DNA kits on their free account. Uploading more than five requires a Tier 1 subscription. Tier 1 is priced at $15 per month or $100 per year. Each kit is assigned a unique kit number. Anyone who knows the kit can run most of the tools on that kit.

Free Tools:

One-To-Many - Limited Version One-To-Many - Original Version *Relationship Probability: This is the first relationship prediction tool to take into account differences between maternal and paternal relationships and show that close genealogical relationships considered to be in the same group are actually very different. This tool was created by Brit Nicholson.

*One-to-One Autosomal DNA Comparison: This is an advanced chromosome browser that allows you to make detailed comparisons between Autosomal DNA kits. You can either keep the default settings or adjust them depending on your needs. This only examines the autosomal DNA. DNA on the X chromosome uses the next tool listed.

*One-to-One X-DNA Comparison: This is an advanced chromosome browser that allows you to make detailed comparisons between X DNA. You can either keep the default settings or adjust them depending on your needs. The reason this tool is separate from the autosomal DNA is different companies handle the fact that males only have one X chromosome differently. This tool accounts for that and creates a smooth transition for you.

*Admixture (heritage):

Admixture / Oracle with Population Search People who match both, or 1 of 2 kits DNA File Diagnostic Utility Analyze DNA file upload for potential problems.

*Are your parents related?: Since you inherit half of your DNA from each of your parents, it stands to reason that large blocks of SNPs where both alleles are the same would be an indication that your parents each inherited that block from the same ancestor. These are called 'Runs of Homozygosity' (ROH). There are other utilities available that look for ROH for other purposes, but this analysis is specifically aimed at determining how closely related your parents might be.

*3-D Chromosome Browser: Archaic DNA Matches Ancestor Projects