Take a unique DNA journey with us — beyond the basics.
We’ve teamed up with DNA expert Diahan Southard to explore genetic connections in fun and exciting ways. The DNA activities in this 21-day experiment go beyond traditional genealogical tasks. In fact, they are short, simple, and engaging. These family-friendly activities include: exploring DNA ethnicity percentages, taking a virtual trip – DNA style, managing DNA surprises, and more! Whether you are a DNA beginner or looking for that next step, this plan will help you with your DNA connections.
Preparation for the DNA Plan (Day Zero)
If you haven’t taken a DNA test yet, start by participating in our 7 Day DNA Plan or follow these steps before you start your 21 day challenge:
Now that you have your DNA results you can follow this 21 day plan to help guide you through discovering and exploring all that your DNA has to offer. As you follow the plan, use your chosen DNA site.
Start your experiment when you have DNA test results in hand!
Jump ahead to the day you’d like to see.
Be sure to take the pre experiment survey before you start and come back and complete the post experiment survey when you are done.
Be sure you have a DNA-friendly family tree attached to your DNA test results. (What’s a DNA-friendly family tree like?) Don’t have a family tree? Here are 3 ways to get a family tree quickly. Here’s how to add a family tree to your DNA test results.
Explore your DNA ethnicity percentages. Watch this 5-minute video about how DNA ethnicity works (and how well it works).
Tip: Use our “Where I come From” Meme (MMM) to share your DNA results in a fun shareable way.
Compare your family tree to your DNA ethnicity to see how closely they align (here’s how to do this if you’re a FamilySearch user). If they don’t match up exactly, that’s okay!
Tip: If there’s a wide discrepancy, make note of it in case you later have unexpected results that might explain it.
Before exploring your DNA matches, think about the possibility of unexpected results–for you or someone related to you. Read this story about a woman who realized her family tree held answers for a DNA cousin who was seeking her birth family. Consider how you might cultivate that kind of genealogical generosity.
Tip: Today share with us on our social channels the reasons why getting your DNA is important to you (insert social channels)
Explore your DNA match list. This short video describes What is a DNA Match? DNA Matches are your genetic relatives who have also tested at the same company. What matches do you recognize? At the top of your match page is a search box. Spend a few minutes searching your matches by surname to see what results you get. Take a moment to appreciate the fact that iit was your DNA that connected you!
Tip: Share with us your favorite or most interesting find on our social channels
Focus on your shared DNA. Your testing company reports your relationship to your matches in terms of how much DNA you share. Usually, the more DNA you share, the more closely you’re related. Learn how the amount of DNA you share hints at how you might be related.
Tip: If you have any half siblings, cousins or other relatives, check out this chart to help you analyze your results.
Continue exploring your DNA match list. Depending on where you’ve tested and what information has been shared, you may be able to see where your matches live; compare your ethnicity results; and even compare your family trees. Find someone interesting and send them a short note to introduce yourself.
Tip: Here are some tips for contacting your matches.
Go on a virtual journey with your DNA. Is your DNA–either your ethnicity or your match list–revealing an important ancestral location? Learn something about it. Watch a travel documentary or read a travel guide about that place, or visit it via Google Earth. Read an inspiring story about connecting to an ancestral homeland using your DNA.
Tip: Learn why it is important to connect with your homeland. Watch a video from this video series and use FamilySearch.org’s Where I Am I From – My Heritage Tool to learn more about your homelands.
Learn about removed cousins. Even if you already know what a removed cousin is, refresh your memory. Read this explanation. (It includes an important bit about whether you’re HIS first cousin once removed or whether he’s YOUR first cousin once removed.) You’ll likely come across a lot of removed cousins in your DNA match list!
If you think you might be discovering a surprise in your DNA matches, read these tips. Be aware of support available to those who discover unexpected parents through DNA testing. If you meet someone who could use this support, tell them about it.
Explore some of your matches’ family trees. Find a match who has posted a family tree (preferably with more than a few names in it) and review it for any familiar ancestral names or places. Not every match posts a public family tree or links their tree to their DNA. Here’s how to explore unlinked trees for your AncestryDNA matches.
Add notes to your DNA matches. By now, you may have started to figure out who some of your matches are, based on your family trees, their usernames, and the like. As you identify someone, add a note to their profile so you’ll remember who they are.
Find a match toward the top of your list (preferably one you know). Use your testing company’s shared matches tool to identify other matches who are related to both of you. Label these matches (if you don’t know what branch of the family they belong to, label them with the match you used to create the network).
Congratulations! You just created your first genetic network!
Learn how DNA can help you identify mystery ancestors by watching this quick video. Then continue creating more genetic networks. Find a match toward the top of your list who is not in the genetic network you created already. Run the shared matches tool with that person to identify other matches who are related to both of you. Label these matches, just like yesterday.
Encourage another relative to take a DNA test. Is there a family member you think would enjoy exploring their DNA, too? Or an older-generation relative still living? A sibling who might want to compare ethnicity results? Or a relative whose shared matches with you might help you create a genetic network?
Tip: Consider these tips for encouraging a relative to take a DNA test.
By now, you may be realizing that if you expand your family tree to include more siblings of your ancestors (and their descendants), you’ll have a better shot at placing your matches on your family tree. Choose a family line and generation of interest and start looking for siblings and their families.
Tip: Here’s a strategy for how to identify more children born to an ancestral couple.
Have any new matches appeared that you haven’t looked at yet? Your testing company likely allows you to sort your matches by those you haven’t reviewed, yet. Test this feature today!
Get inspired! Read this short story about how a genealogist used DNA to verify the identity of an ancestor he wasn’t sure about. Do you have any mystery ancestors within the range of a 3x great grandparent whose identity you would like to explore using DNA? Research your DNA connections and see if you can make any new discoveries related to this mystery ancestor.
DNA alone can’t completely build you a solid, accurate family tree any more than genealogy alone can do the job. Consider the limits of DNA testing and how these apply to your possibly-growing ambitions for extending your family tree using DNA. What questions do you still have after working your dna these past 18 days? Share them with us and lets help each other find the answers.
Reach out to unresponsive matches. Have you reached out to matches but haven’t heard back? Maybe they’re not checking their testing company emails. Consider Googling your DNA matches to learn more about how you might be related, or to find alternate ways to contact them.
Everyone’s DNA journey is unique. How has exploring your DNA these past 21 days changed you? You may or may not have made any startling discoveries, but it’s likely you’ve felt some new kind of curiosity, appreciation or awareness. DNA stories are especially intriguing, even to relatives who may not be interested in traditional genealogy. Share your DNA Story with your friends and family on social media and invite them to join in on your search. Use our Relative Finder Make My Meme to create a visual you can easily share with your story.
Tip: Here are tips on how to tell a good DNA story.
© Family Connections Experiment
We've concluded our experiment!
We want to keep our resources available as long as possible, and will continue to do so while the funds last. Our products and digital downloads will also remain available through the end of the year, these funds will be used to support the website, so be sure to grab them soon.
Complement your 21day experiment with Your DNA Guide—the Book. It takes you step-by-step through the various ways of using DNA to answer questions about your origins.
Celebrate your heritage by making a pie chart showing where your family is from. You can use the results of DNA testing or FamilySearch’s Where Am I From activity.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
You can enter information for up to 8 countries. If you have less than that, that’s okay too. Just enter what you have.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Joining us from RootsTech Connect? Press play!
(Be sure to visit our shop and use the 20% off code ROOTSTECH)
Check our relativefinder.org and see if you’re related to any famous people. If you join our group (Connections-Experiment) you might some cousins among our other participants. Grab a picture of you and your relative and you can make a meme to celebrate the relationship.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Visit this FamilySearch page to see important dates in the lives our your ancestors. Make a note of the person’s name, a birthday or anniversary and their relationship to you. Then make a meme to celebrate the special day.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
In honor of the Chinese New Year, find out which animal is associated with the year you were born in. We’ll create a meme for you with the animal and some characteristics associated with that animal.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Do you have a cherished heirloom? You can create a meme to celebrate the item and the story behind it. You just need a picture and then you can follow our easy steps.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Take a walk down memory lane by creating a meme from a photo of your childhood home. You could also commemorate other locations that are special to you.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
It can be as simple as, “My Childhood Home” or you can include dates or any other description you would like.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Create your own shareable graphic to celebrate the milestones in your relationship with your significant other.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Recreate an old photo and then create your own meme to show it off.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Do you have an item that has special family meaning? Creating a meme to celebrate it is easy. Just take a picture and follow these steps.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #connectionsexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Receive daily emails with your daily plan prompts and information about other events and connection opportunities.
CLICK HERE and enter your email address to be added to this email list.
LEARNING AND CONNECTING EVENTS
Receive a text before events.
TEXT the message @FCE-Events to the number 81010. *If you have trouble, try texting @FCE-Events to (224) 324-3285.
Download the Connections Experiment App from the
Google Play store for easy access to daily plan prompts.
We’re gearing up for our next experiment starting October 1, 2020 for Family History month!
We would love to have you join us! Simply sign up below and we’ll send you a reminder when the initial survey and plans are up!
We can’t wait to participate in another experiment with you!