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Ancestry® Pro Tools Guide: Features, Benefits, and How to Use Them
Table of Contents Introduction — Why I Use Pro Tools How Pro Tools Can Help You 2.1 Why Pro Tools Matters 2.2 Membership Basics 2.3 Pro Tools Cost Feature Deep Dive 3.1 Enhanced Shared Matches 3.2 Matches by Cluster 3.3 Networks 3.4 Smart Filters 3.5 Tree Checker 3.6 Tree Mapper 3.7 Tree Insights 3.8 Charts & Reports Real-Life Scenarios FAQs — Quick Answers Is It Worth It? Conclusion 1 Introduction - Why I use Pro Tools When people ask why I invest time in Ancestry’s Pro Tools and the Genealogy Assistant , it comes down to making my family history work both usable now and sustainable for the future . Here are the key reasons: 1.1 A Well-Researched Public Tree I maintain a large public tree at Ancestry which I aim to be carefully documented and sourced. This tree acts as a reference point for DNA matches and other researchers. It is available now for collaboration, and it will also stand as a lasting resource for future generations. A...
Making sense of your DNA matches: The new AncestryDNA clustering tool
In July 2025, AncestryDNA introduced a powerful new feature - Matches by Cluster - that helps us visualise how DNA matches relate both to the tester and to each other. Released as part of the Pro Tools suite and currently in Beta, this is an important step forward for family historians looking to organise and interpret their genetic matches. Clustering itself isn’t new in genetic genealogy. MyHeritage has offered AutoClusters since 2019. Third-party tools such as GeneticAffairs AutoClusters, DNA Painter’s Cluster Auto Painter (CAP), and GEDmatch Tier 1 Clustering have been available for years. The key difference is that clustering is now built directly into AncestryDNA, giving users of the world’s largest consumer DNA database the convenience of analysis without exporting data elsewhere. Understanding clustering and its benefits A cluster displays matches who share DNA with both the tester and each other - often pointing to a shared ancestral line. Instead of analysing matches one by o...
First Look at AncestryDNA – A Practical Guide
Revised version: June 2025 Welcome to this comprehensive guide to working with your AncestryDNA results. These notes accompany the Society of Australian Genealogists’ webinar “First Look at AncestryDNA” and are intended to support individuals who are beginning to explore the use of autosomal DNA in their family history research. The content is regularly updated to reflect changes in available tools and improvements in understanding. If you would like to reuse this material beyond personal research, please contact me at chrisw9953[at]gmail[dot]com . AncestryDNA offers a range of features that can assist researchers in identifying biological relationships, confirming lineages, and uncovering new connections. However, the effective use of DNA evidence requires more than just receiving test results - it involves a clear understanding of genetic concepts, thoughtful analysis and careful integration with documentary research. To help you navigate, here’s a quick ...