Ancestry Updates June 2024: New Shared Matches DNA Pro Tool

Ancestry's New Shared Matches DNA Pro Tool Enhances Genetic Genealogy Research

Ancestry Updates June 2024: Introducing the New Shared Matches DNA Pro Tool

​Ancestry has recently unveiled a highly anticipated addition to their Pro Tools suite: the Shared Matches DNA Pro Tool. This new feature enables users to explore the connections between their shared matches, offering a more detailed view of how individuals are interrelated within their genetic network. Designed to enhance genealogical research, Pro Tools is a premium set of tools available for an additional fee, as first introduced in Ancestry Updates December 2023: Ancestry's New Pro Tools.

Getting Started with Ancestry’s New DNA Pro Tool

To access the Shared Matches Pro Tool, after the purchase of Pro Tools in addition to an already Ancestry membership, follow these simple steps:

1. Navigate to “Matches.”
2. Select a specific match.
3. Click on “Shared Matches.”
4. Begin comparing how your shared matches interconnect.

Getting to Ancestry's Shared Match DNA Pro Tool- Step 2

Getting to Ancestry's Shared Match DNA Pro Tool- Step 3

Getting to Ancestry's Shared Match DNA Pro Tool- Step 4

Current Limitations and Considerations

While this new tool brings exciting possibilities, it is important to note that it is still in its early stages. As with any new technology, there are some limitations and areas for improvement. Here are some of the issues users may encounter:

• Navigation Challenges: There is no back button. To return to your full list of matches, you must either restart from the beginning or use your browser’s back function to navigate through several URLs.
• Match Display: Only 20 matches are shown per page, which can be limiting for extensive research.
• User Interface Issues: The tool can be cumbersome to use, with several reported glitches.
• Access to Traditional View: Users no longer have access to the regular shared matches view, which may be a significant adjustment.
• Visual Changes: The colored grouping dots have been changed to squares, with alterations in the color scheme.

Important Notes

• Additional Fee: Access to this tool requires a subscription to Pro Tools.
• Increased Time Investment: Be prepared to spend more time navigating back to your match list, adding notes, and managing other tasks due to the current usability issues.
• Utility for Novices and Experts: While the tool is particularly beneficial for those unfamiliar with mapping DNA matches, it can also help experienced genealogists confirm their findings.
• Visual Adjustments: Expect your colored grouping to look different from previous views.
• Accuracy of Relationships: The provided relationship estimates may not always be accurate. Clicking on the relationship information and reviewing the "Frequency of relationships" can offer additional insights.

Insights and Reflections

The new Shared Matches DNA Pro Tool holds significant potential for genealogists, especially those new to DNA research. It simplifies the process of understanding how shared matches may be related, which is invaluable for the majority of Ancestry subscribers. However, for seasoned professionals, the tool might serve more as a supplementary aid rather than a primary resource.

In my professional experience, while the tool did not help confirm the one case I specifically purchased it for—due to the complexities of endogamy and pedigree collapse—it did prove valuable in validating previous research. Within just a few hours, I was able to confirm findings from my own family tree and work done for clients, from the past decade. Although it offers a novel way to explore relationships, it may feel more like an experimental feature than a game-changing tool at this stage.

Overall, the new Shared Matches DNA Pro Tool represents an exciting step forward for AncestryDNA and their Pro Tools, and with continued development, it has the potential to become an indispensable resource for genealogists of all levels.

​More Ancestry and Genealogy Resources

Learn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.