There are a number of programs available to assist with DNA genealogy research. So far I've tried two: Genome Mate Pro and AncestryDNA Helper. I stumbled upon both of them. I suppose I should find a good DNA genealogy group to join where they probably talk about such things.
Genome Mate Pro
Genome Mate Pro allows you to manage and explore your matches from your DNA analysis service. Many (most?) services allow you to download a file of your DNA matches that includes names and the portion of DNA in common. You have this information available through your service online, but there are advantages to using GMP. If you are using more than one DNA analysis, either from different services or for different individuals, you can display them all together in GMP. That allows me to take notes, list relationships, see whose been identified, etc. in one list, using one database. Adding a GEDCOM file (a genealogy file that includes all your known ancestors) makes it easier to associate DNA fragments with your ancestors, and to see together those who share those fragments, no matter which service tested them. There are lots of other convenient features, too. The hope is that if I can identify enough closer cousins, and their DNA fragments, I can start to see patterns in DNA segments that will lead me to identifying ancestors farther back than I have been able to do following paper trails alone. By collaborating with people that you know are related to you, through DNA matches, your search becomes much more focused.
AncestryDNA
Now I would like to use this software to analyze and track DNA matches made through a relative on AncestryDNA. Ancestry has by far the largest number of DNA kits - persons who have submitted their DNA to Ancestry for analysis - in their database. I am constantly thwarted in my attempts to glean useful information related to the DNA matches because all of the useful information - family trees, in particular - is part of the paid Ancestry subscription service which, starting at $200 per year, is way too expensive for me. In the same vein, AncestryDNA does not allow the downloading of DNA match data. The DNA is yours, but the matches are part of their service and if you want to use them to have to do it through them. Note: I am not complaining. That's just the way it is. The other companies would like to be in this position, I'm sure, but they're not, and to chip away at AncestryDNA's market share they offer match sharing files.
AncestryDNA Helper
There are a number of third party apps to try to get around the Ancestry block. I've only tried one so far, AncestryDNA Helper. It is an extension added to only the Chrome browser. I tried it a couple of times, but it or Chrome freezes up, and I don't get all the data. There are lots of resources on the Internet that give you all sorts of ways to try to successfully complete the data harvesting. There are lots of people who give very high marks for the software, so your experience may be better than mine. There are also lots of people who talk about the software freezing up and alternatives that work better, perhaps with a paid subscription. Personally, I'm new enough to DNA genealogy research that I have lots of non-Ancestry families to work with and don't want to put the time into this software to see if I can get it to work. If it does work, it still will not have DNA fragment. I believe I could hope for a list of names, estimated relationships, and amount of shared DNA (percent and cMs). So I could use the research management part Genome Mate Pro, but not the DNA comparison parts.
Or Download Upload Download Read
Another alternative is to download your raw DNA file from AncestryDNA, upload this file to another DNA analysis service - I've seen GEDMatch, MyHeritage, and FTDNA mentioned - where matches will be made with this new services database of participants, then download a matches file to your computer and, finally, read this file into GMP for tracking and analysis. I'm not recommending or dissuading you from doing this. I, personally, have not gotten over my privacy concerns about shared DNA and, though I've participated in a service, I am reluctant to make my DNA even more public by sharing with additional services. Personal choice. I may change my mind next month.
