DNA Spring Cleaning: A Must Do

We say "test as many as we can, but wisely." This has been the a3Genealogy and the DNA Community mantra since about 2009. Now it's time to do some Spring Cleaning.

Don't Lose Your DNA Testing Results
I've heard many of you have not securely saved or downloaded you Raw DNA. You will want to do that and here's why...

If you have tested, or have had elder relatives tests, be sure to download your Raw Data to your personal computer. Why, because if  a company goes defunct, so might the DNA testing results along with the RawData on that company - never to be retrieved again. A good example is that I would want to preserve my deceased mother's DNA results.

Why Mention Now?
Have you been keeping up with the 23andMe Security Breach Debacle? 

Wired: 5 Dec 2023

Wall Street Journal, Rolfe Winkler, 31 Jan 2024 

FastCompany, 31 Jan 2024

  

Will they recover? The stock shares are now, at best, Penny Stocks. Will they survive? If they fail, will the DNA Raw Data of your loved ones be accessible?  

What Can You Do?
In addition to downloading your DNA Raw Data to a secured file, you will want to upload your Raw Data to MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA.  Besides expanding your cousin matches to analyze, you will receive additional resources.  

How to download from 23andMe?
You can access your raw genetic data within your 23andMe account one of three ways:
First: Login to 23andMe

1. Navigate directly to you.23andme.com/tools/data/
2. Click on your profile name on the top right-hand corner of your homepage, and select Resources from the dropdown menu.Then select “Browse Raw Genotyping Data” and then “Download” at the top of the page.
3. Visit your Account Settings and click on “View” under 23andMe Data.

Here are full instructions if needed: Accessing Your Raw Genetic Data

Upload to MyHeritage

linktr.ee/hittinthebricks

Once on your computer, you can upload this data for free on MyHeritage.com.  Just create a free account and follow these instructions:Upload DNA Data to MyHeritage.

By the way did you know our partner Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen podcast are giving away a Free MyHeritage Complete Package for a year (value $300). To learn more about the Free MyHeritage Complete Package Giveaway, just subscribe to the linktr.ee/hittinthebricks site. It's a monthly drawing, no newsletters, no selling, just a drawing for our subscribers. 

Upload to FamilyTreeDNA

Go to this link to Upload your DNA data

What About AncestryDNA

Note: You cannot upload to ancestryDNA.  

But, you should download your Raw Data from the AncestryDNA kits also and store in a secured place for a backup. Here Is that Downloading DNA Data from AncestryDNA instructions. 

Be sure to share this post with your DNA testing cousins. 

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Podcast: Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen