| AncestryDNA's New Chromosome Painter |
| AncestryDNA recently released their first chromosome painter, and the DNA community is buzzing with the news. We’ve invited Diahan Southard, one of our regular contributors and founder of Your DNA Guide, to shed some light on this new resource.
What exactly is a chromosome painter? How does it differ from a chromosome browser? Both the chromosome browser and the chromosome painter visualize your chromosomes. The biggest difference between the chromosome painter at AncestryDNA and a chromosome browser (that is not provided) is that the painter gives you insight into your own DNA, and the browser allows you to explore your relationship to others. How should people use this new tool in their research? What new information can it tell you about your family tree? This chromosome painter view is not much different than the original SideView ethnicity inheritance tool that was originally introduced. They are both meant to show you which ethnicities you received from your mom, and which from your dad. Knowing this may give you insight into missing ancestors and fuel your search. How does Ancestry's new tool compare to already-existing chromosome painters from 23andMe and DNA Painter? Is it worth using more than one chromosome painter? Ancestry’s chromosome painter is basically identical to the tool at 23andMe. However, the tool at DNA Painter is actually a chromosome browser that you can paint, called a chromosome map! Now, I am sure that statement wasn’t at all confusing! The point of DNA Painter’s chromosome map is to make an interactive image of your own DNA, using the DNA you share with your matches, to create a map showing the DNA you inherited from your ancestors. |
