The Family Tree is a new feature that automatically predicts a family tree based on the DNA you share with your relatives in 23andMe. The Family Tree feature is listed in the Family & Friends menu.
How it works
When you opt-in and participate in DNA Relatives or make one-to-one connections with other 23andMe customers, 23andMe compares your DNA and ages and predicts your genetic relationships.
To build your predicted family tree, we then go a step further: we also look at the predicted relationships between your relatives, and calculate many different ways you could all be related to each other. The tree you see represents the most likely tree out of all the possibilities we calculated.
If you choose to opt in to DNA Relatives, your Family Tree shows your close family members (3rd cousin or closer) that have been genotyped by 23andMe and who have also opted into the DNA Relatives tool. Additionally, any close family members with whom you have established a sharing connection will also be added to your tree.
Because the Family Tree predictions use only DNA and age, the identities of your predicted ancestors are unknown. When you determine which of your family members or ancestors links you to a particular DNA relative, you can manually write them in to the correct position in the tree. Only you can view the information you add about living family members. Any information you add about ancestors that you mark as deceased can be seen by DNA relatives and connections.
Editing Your Tree
At this time, you are only able to add information about certain non-genotyped relatives. To add information about one of these relatives, to a node:
- Click on their relationship and select the “Add information” button.
- Fill in the information panel that appears.
- Be sure to click save to have this information added to your tree.
Privacy
The information you add to your tree about living relatives will only be visible to you. At this time, your full Family Tree is visible only to you.