How do I review a DNA Match?

To review a DNA Match, users can access an in-depth page presenting detailed information. This page includes contact options for the match, an estimated relationship, and sections such as Smart Matches, shared ancestral surnames, and shared DNA Matches, which indicate genetic relatives common to both individuals. Pedigree charts display up to five generations of direct ancestors, and the Chromosome Browser visually represents shared DNA segments, helping to identify common ancestors.

What are the privacy options for my DNA data?

Users control their DNA privacy settings through the DNA Preferences section of their family site. These settings include enabling or disabling DNA matching, allowing others to view ethnicity estimates, and granting permission for DNA matches to view and download shared DNA segment data. Additionally, users can choose whether to display DNA badges in family trees and can opt into or out of the DNA Informed Consent Agreement, which allows MyHeritage to use anonymized DNA data for research. These options empower users to manage how their genetic information is shared and utilized on the platform.

How do I use the Chromosome Browser — One-to-many?

The Chromosome Browser — One-to-many enables the comparison of DNA segments between a user (or individuals whose DNA kits are managed by the user) and up to seven DNA Matches. By analyzing these shared segments, including triangulated segments, users can infer relationships and identify common ancestors. This tool is accessed through the DNA Tools section of MyHeritage and allows for detailed visual comparison of genetic overlap across chromosomes.

What does the Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) upgrade mean for my DNA results?

MyHeritage DNA has upgraded to Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), which reads nearly all of an individual's DNA for improved accuracy in DNA Matches and ethnicity estimates. Previously processed kits or uploaded DNA data will not be reprocessed with WGS, and individuals must order a new kit to access this technology. While the sample collection kit remains the same, the processing method in the lab has changed. Significant improvements from WGS will become noticeable over time, as MyHeritage builds a larger database of WGS-processed kits.

How can I find triangulated DNA segments?

Users interested in triangulated DNA segments can compare themselves, a known relative, and a DNA Match in the One-to-Many Chromosome Browser. MyHeritage also helps identify triangulated segments on the Review DNA Match page, where an indicator shows when a match and a shared DNA match have triangulated segments with the user. Clicking this indicator automatically loads the comparison in the Chromosome Browser for efficient review. Alternatively, users can export shared segment data for all DNA Matches and manually look for additional matches with segments at the same genomic location.

Your DNA Could Solve a Murder — But Should It?

The explosion of interest in family history has led millions to explore their heritage through DNA testing. These tests can connect you with relatives, illuminate your ethnic background, and help you build a family tree. But what happens when the information you share to find your third cousins is used to find a wanted criminal? This is the central question of Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG), a powerful investigative technique that uses consumer DNA databases to solve crimes.

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It pits two important values against each other: the public’s interest in justice and the individual's right to genetic privacy. The debate is complex, with compelling arguments on both sides, and it challenges us to consider where we draw the line between personal discovery and civic duty.

Key Takeaways

Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG): FGG is an investigative method that uses genetic data from consumer genealogy databases to identify suspects or victims in criminal cases by finding their relatives and building family trees.
Two Types of Databases: A critical distinction exists between genealogy platforms that are private and prohibit law enforcement use, and those that are public or allow users to opt-in to law enforcement matching.
The Ethical Dilemma: While FGG has been instrumental in solving dozens of cold cases, it raises significant privacy concerns, particularly regarding the consent of relatives whose data indirectly becomes part of a criminal search.
Privacy and Choice: Understanding a genealogy service's terms of service regarding data privacy and law enforcement access is crucial for any user before they test or upload their DNA data.

What Is Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG)?

The process uses a DNA sample from a crime scene, a suspect, or unidentified human remains. When traditional law-enforcement DNA databases (like CODIS) return no match, investigators may turn to consumer genetic-genealogy databases that explicitly permit law-enforcement searches.

Investigators upload the DNA profile to one or more genealogy databases that permit law enforcement searches. The goal is to find individuals who share DNA with the unknown person, indicating they are relatives. Even a distant cousin match can be the starting point. They search for overlaps that might point to a common ancestor, and then trace the descendants forward to identify possible suspects or the name of the unknown deceased person. This technique came to global prominence with the identification of the "Golden State Killer," bringing FGG into the public spotlight.

A Tale of Two Databases: Comparing Policies on Law Enforcement Access

Databases generally fall into two categories based on their policies toward law enforcement access. This distinction is the most important factor for consumers concerned about how their data might be used, as the choice of platform determines whether your genetic information could become an investigative tool.

The Public or 'Opt-In' Model

Some DNA databases are either public by nature or have specific policies allowing users to voluntarily opt-in to law enforcement matching. Proponents of this model argue that it provides a powerful tool for justice, allowing consenting individuals to help solve violent crimes. For users who choose to participate, it’s a way of contributing to public safety and bringing resolution to cold cases. Law enforcement agencies have used this approach to resolve cases that have been cold for decades, bringing closure to families and communities. The successful capture of the "Grim Sleeper" was aided by the use of a partial DNA profile to find a familial link.

The Private, Closed-Access Model

In stark contrast, other major consumer genealogy platforms like MyHeritage take a firm stance on privacy and expressly prohibit law enforcement use. Their terms of service are unambiguous, forbidding law enforcement from uploading crime scene DNA to search for matches or using the platform for forensic investigations. This approach prioritizes user privacy above all else. For users of these services, there is no “opt-in” option for forensic matching because the practice is banned entirely.

This model ensures that a user's decision to explore their personal heritage doesn't inadvertently place them or their relatives into a criminal investigation. This creates a secure space dedicated solely to personal genealogical and family history discovery, separate from any forensic application.

A silhouette of a person standing before a complex, sprawling family tree chart.

The Powerful Case for Justice: Why FGG Is a 'Game-Changer'

There is no denying the profound impact FGG has had on criminal justice. Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors view it as one of the most significant investigative breakthroughs in modern history. The Bureau of Justice Assistance recognizes FGG as a powerful investigative tool for resolving violent crimes, and its use has led to the successful resolution of a significant number of cold cases. For families of victims who have waited decades for answers, this technology can bring an end to agonizing uncertainty.

Advocates argue that the societal benefit of taking dangerous offenders off the streets outweighs the potential privacy intrusions. They see it not as surveillance, but as a technologically advanced form of traditional detective work. When used ethically and responsibly, it stands as a uniquely effective method for identifying suspects in cases where all other leads have gone cold. The sense of public vindication is palpable; after one jury convicted a man of first-degree murder based on DNA evidence from genetic genealogy, the public saw a clear demonstration of how DNA profiling is used to solve crimes. This has created a strong push among law enforcement groups to encourage cooperation from genealogy companies.

The Unsettling Questions: Privacy, Consent, and Ethics

Despite its successes, the use of FGG opens a Pandora's box of ethical dilemmas that are far from settled.

The Implied Consent of an Entire Family

The most significant ethical hurdle is genetic consent. When you upload your DNA, you are sharing information that is inherently familial. A single person’s decision to make their DNA available for forensic matching has implications for their entire family tree. This means that hundreds of relatives can become persons of interest in a criminal investigation without their knowledge, let alone their consent. This raises fundamental questions about individual autonomy and the right to control one's own genetic information.

The Risk of Mission Creep

Critics also worry about the creation of a de facto universal genetic database for law enforcement purposes. As more people use consumer DNA tests, the aggregated data becomes increasingly comprehensive. This raises concerns about mission creep, where a tool initially justified for solving the most heinous violent crimes could eventually be used for minor offenses or other forms of social monitoring.

A fingerprint overlaid with lines of genetic code.

Potential for Error and Misinterpretation

Another concern is the potential for error at multiple stages of the process. At the laboratory level, DNA samples can be imperfect or contaminated, either accidentally or maliciously. Even with a clean sample, the genealogical analysis itself is a complex human endeavor. It involves interpreting historical records, which can be incomplete or ambiguous, and constructing family trees that can be easily misdirected by adoptions, name changes, or secret affairs.

Misinterpreting these complex family trees could potentially point investigators toward innocent people. While genetic genealogy can help solve cold cases, but misinterpretation of complex family trees can also point investigators toward the wrong person when data is misinterpreted. While such mistakes may be temporary, the experience of being wrongly identified as a relative of a violent criminal can have devastating consequences.

From Lead to Conviction: It's More Than Just a Match

One of the most common misconceptions about FGG is that a match in a genealogy database is enough to prove guilt. This is not the case. FGG provides an investigative lead—an educated guess about the identity of a suspect. It is not direct evidence of guilt.

Law enforcement must still conduct a traditional investigation to confirm the lead. This means they must obtain a fresh DNA sample directly from the identified suspect, typically through a warrant, and then match that sample directly to the DNA evidence from the crime scene. The U.S. Department of Justice has laid out an interim policy that stresses FGG is for law enforcement identification purposes only.

The database match simply tells police where to look; when a DNA kit becomes evidence in a cold case, the subsequent, direct DNA comparison provides the evidence used in court.

The Shifting Legal and Regulatory Landscape

As the use of FGG grows, so do calls for regulation. Currently, the process is largely unregulated in many jurisdictions, creating a legal gray area that lawmakers are beginning to address. In the United Kingdom, for example, officials are examining the legality of FGG with a close eye on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to a private and family life.

In the United States, a handful of states are starting to consider legislation to manage police access to consumer DNA databases. Maryland, for instance, has debated proposals to restrict the practice, reflecting a growing public and legislative concern that seeks to balance investigative needs with civil liberties. These legal challenges aim to establish clear rules of engagement, ensuring that this powerful technology is used responsibly and with judicial oversight. For many, the ultimate goal is cracking cold cases with inherited clues while maintaining strict legal safeguards.

Your Data, Your Choice: Understanding Privacy Policies

For anyone considering a DNA test for genealogical purposes, the debate over FGG underscores the importance of being an informed consumer. Before you order a test or upload your data to any site, it is crucial to read the terms of service and privacy policy. Pay close attention to any clauses regarding data sharing with third parties, particularly law enforcement.

Does the service allow law enforcement searches? Is it an "opt-in" system where you must give explicit consent, or does the platform have a strict prohibition? Making a conscious choice about which platform aligns with your personal values on privacy is the most powerful step you can take. Exploring your heritage is a deeply personal endeavor. By choosing a service that guarantees your data will not be used for forensic investigations, you can embark on your journey of discovery with the assurance that your genetic information remains private and is used only for the purpose you intended: connecting with your family history.