Geni should implement a feature where users can import their yDNA and/or mtDNA markers to their trees. Users should then have the option of releasing this information to the Geni "matching algorithym", which should notify users of exact DNA matches. This feature is currently available on Ancestry.com and Geni should follow suit. MyHeritage.com is also offering individuals testing and membership in surname groups through a partnership with FTDNA. Geni should actively seek such partnerships with companies like FTDNA and 23&Me.
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Votes
7 comments
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Marsha Gail Kamish All for it.
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Eldon Clark (Geni volunteer curator) Great idea
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Milton M Oliver YSEARCH.org already provides a matching service which works, regardless of which DNA company did your testing. The universe of people will be fragmented if everybody starts providing duplicative services.
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Justin Durand YSEARCH capability is limited. It's a very rudimentary system.
The most frustrating thing about YSEARCH is that it's not pedigree linked. It's just a collection of individual results. It's only possible to identify matches for an ancestral line if the user has uploaded a GEDCOM. Most haven't. When I see a result for Smith, I want to know if it's my Smith line. Even when pedigrees exist on YSEARCH, it's necessary to search item by item and surname by surname. Most genealogists want to know more than just a single male line. So, the average genealogist has to search dozens of surnames with not much change of finding out whether there's a match.
Moreover, YSEARCH is very slow to update its pre-defined haplogroups to match the ISOGG definitions, and when they do (eventually) update the category, not all users bother to go back and verify their own information.
Finally, FTDNA has said that it will continue to support YSEARCH, but does not intend to develop it further.
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Bentzion Turin Milton,
I too am concerned about the fragmentation, however, I personally don't feel that Geni integration will cause more fragmentation. People realize that Geni is a limited universe. On a related topic though, it appears for now that Ancestry will not be having download capability on the raw data from it's new autosomal test, which is dissapointing and I am asking everyone I know to e-mail them about this.
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Bentzion Turin I just added a new feature request to allow for display of direct paternal and maternal lines. Please comment there as well. Thanks!
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M Fischtein This is a great questions. I hope Geni.com support answers this. We also have results from FTDNA that we would like to join into Geni.com but are not able to find instructions of this can be completed.
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