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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2009-09 > 1253836785


From: Patrick Tagert <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] Relative Finder Beta Testing at 23andMe
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:59:45 -0700


My stats-

4th cousins - 4
5th cousins - 7
6th cousins - 3
Distant cousins - 214

Up to now, I haven't heard any discussion of the "List View" feature.
The List View has two columns of info titled "% DNA Shared" & "#
Shared Segments". Comparing info from those columns suggests some
possibilities which I would like to explore. For me they vary hugely,
from my nearest 4th cousin match to my "most distant cousin" match.
For my nearest 4th cousin match, the "% DNA Shared" is 0.68% & for my
most distant cousins, 0.09%. That's a pretty huge difference in
absolute terms, but I don't know the significance in weighted terms.
My two nearest 4th cousins both show 2 shared segments. I am
currently sharing with a gentleman with whom I have a known exact
match of 850+ (don't remember exact figure) sequential bases on the X
chromosome, as well as many shorter segments of exactly matching
bases on the X. He is rated at 0.13% DNA Shared, which is rather far
down the list. If a matching segment of 850+ identical bases on the X
comes in as 0.13% DNA shared on a single segment, what does that mean
for a match of 0.68% shared on two segments?

My next nearest 4th cousin match is 0.52% with two segments shared. I
should also say that two previously identified matches of "half
identical regions" on a specific chromosome (using the existing
Family Inheritance tool) now appear as distant cousins with 0.13% DNA
shared on one shared segment, again a rather low figure by
comparison. These are all "unknown" cousins for me. To best of my
knowledge, only one distant cousin has tested with 23andMe, as
described below.

A well known cousin (4th? never have bothered to figure out level of
cousinship) with whom I have corresponded for many years doesn't show
up at all in these matches, & I share with him at 23andMe, so he
should be visible, per the conditions as described for the Beta
version. We have extensive paper trail documentation of recent common
ancestry with complete family groups, marriage & death records,
cemeteries where known relatives are buried, etc., etc., etc. Our
most recent common ancestor was six (?) generations ago, & some of
the matches that I am seeing with this new Beta are clearly much,
much more distant than that. What's up with that? My cousin & I have
always wondered why nothing showed up at 23andMe when we compared.

Any of the other Beta testers interested in quoting their highest %
cousin matches & number of segments shared, specifically in relation
to "unknown" matches (versus known relatives). What kind of % figures
show up for known relatives?? Thanks, Pat

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