We estimate relationships in three steps:
- Shared segments. We compare your DNA with that of other people who have activated DNA Connect and identify the identical segments you share.
- Length. We measure each segment in centimorgans (cM) and retain only those long enough to be considered inherited from a common ancestor: these are IBD (identical by descent) segments.
- Relationship. We add up the shared cM and our algorithms estimate the relationship: the more cM you share, the closer the relationship.
If the DNA data come from another company's raw data file, we first carry out a quality check to confirm compatibility with our system.