I blame John D. Reid for my inability to get much done yesterday — with the exception of learning more about DNA research and exploring my own DNA matches.
On his blog, Canada’s Anglo-Celtic Connections, John wrote about and provided a link to a video of a presentation delivered at the Genetic Genealogy Ireland conference in Belfast last month by Scottish genealogist Michelle Leonard.
The 50-minute presentation, Using autosomal DNA to maximum effect, is jam-packed with good information. Because it is recorded, I was able to stop it several times to try different applications with my own DNA results.
The biggest take-away for me was the section on X chromosomes. It is an area I haven’t explored enough. I especially liked the chart Ms. Leonard used, and I now understand how it could help me figure out how my mystery second cousin and I are connected. One of the times I stopped the presentation was to Google X chromosome chart template, and I found one, called Microsoft Word docx format – Female, on Debbie Parker Wayne’s website that I have already started using. (Scroll down to the X-DNA section.)
Make sure you watch the “deck of cards” analogy at the 22:15 mark about why we should ask our siblings to take a DNA test. At that point, I again stopped the video, this time to message my sister about testing her DNA. (She agreed.)
More videos from the conference are available on the Genetic Genealogy Ireland YouTube channel, and more are expected to be added soon. More opportunities to get little else done than DNA research.
I have used the spreadsheet you found, but a much easier way, is use Charting Companion by Progeny. There is a built in x-dna chart, and I was just reading that they have improved it further. https://dna-explained.com/category/charting-companion/
Did I read the info about the software correctly? It is about $35 US? If that’s the case, I’ll probably stick with the Word document I mentioned in the blog post. Thanks for sharing. Always good to learn about other resources.
I like Charting Companion too Lori and I do use it but I find myself referring to my trusty old X-DNA pedigree chart often and it is a free resource so I prefer to point it out in my talks for that reason. Yes Gail Charting Companion is $35; I think it’s worth it as it has a lot of functionality but for just an X-DNA chart it’s probably overkill.
Debbie Parker Wayne’s charts are excellent but it’s Sue Griffiths’ versions of them that I use:
http://www.genealogyjunkie.net/downloads.html
Sue modified Debbie’s charts in a couple of ways. Just scroll down to “Templates for a Pedigree Chart and X-DNA Inheritance Charts” at the bottom of the page to download them.
I actually used to use gedtree.com who generated excellent fan chart versions from uploaded gedcoms for free but they’re on a hiatus at the moment and that facility is not available. Some people love fan charts and some people prefer regular vertical pedigrees – it’s all individual. There’s an interesting discussion about it on Debbie’s old downloads page. The key is to find a chart that works for you, fill it out with your own X-DNA ancestors (and fill one out for other close relatives you may have tested such as parents) and get in the habit of referring to these when you get any reasonable X-DNA matches to investigate. I find it a great help.
Thanks again for all the lovely feedback Gail!
Thanks for “seconding” the tip. I must explore the charts.
There are links to all the different X-chromosome charts on this page in the ISOGG Wiki: https://isogg.org/wiki/X-chromosome_testing
I will take a look. Thanks!