How to create your XDNA chart using Legacy Family Tree software
December 06, 2019
It's being called "the best DNA webinar yet", and "maybe the best webinar ever." One viewer said, "I have taken week-long DNA courses and listened to countless DNA lectures. No lecturer has ever demystified X-DNA." The webinar, and the topic that everyone is talking about, is this week's live webinar by Debra Renard:
Which Spot Does X Mark, Anyway? X-DNA Testing in Action
Because X-DNA isn't a stand-alone test, it's an overlooked research tool and even confused with mtDNA and autosomal DNA. As Debra illustrated, looking at the X really can solve unknown parentage mysteries. Watch the webinar here.
What turned on the DNA light bulb for me were the inheritance charts she showed. It helped so much to see how the XDNA is passed to descendants, thus helping the researcher narrow down potential relationships of DNA matches.
Even more helpful is the fact that the Legacy Family Tree software has the XDNA relationships built in to its charts. Here's how to see your XDNA chart.
1. In Legacy, click on the Legacy Charting button in MyToolbar.
2. Choose one of the ancestor charts like the Upward or the Half Fan.
3. On the Appearance tab, click on the Color button. Change the theme to DNA X Chromosome.
Here's what my Half Fan chart looks like with this theme selected:
The chart makes it simple to visualize which relationships in my tree could account for an XDNA match.
Here's my wife's Half Fan chart:
If I found an XDNA match, the chart helps me know that the match could not be on my paternal side of the tree, and shows which part of the tree it could have come from. If my wife found an XDNA match, the possibilities are pretty different.
So...if XDNA is new(er) to you, check out both the webinar and your Legacy software.
Is this feature only available in Version 9?
Posted by: Donna | December 09, 2019 at 07:06 AM
Donna - yes, this was added to v9.
Posted by: Geoff Rasmussen | December 09, 2019 at 07:44 AM
This is an excellent feature that I did not know about. Thank you so much. I study mine and my siblings DNA every day (yes, every day) to try and break two huge brick walls. Truthfully, I pretty much ignore the X chromosome.
I can’t wait to print these charts.
Posted by: Diane Gould Hall | December 09, 2019 at 09:35 AM
Why am I limited to 4 generations?
Posted by: Mary | December 09, 2019 at 05:39 PM
Mary - the free, standard edition of Legacy limits the charts in Legacy Charting to 4 generations.
Posted by: Geoff Rasmussen | December 10, 2019 at 08:52 AM
What is XDNA? I’m familiar with YDNA and others.
Posted by: Robert Whitaker | December 10, 2019 at 11:31 AM
Thanks for this tip. This chart makes it a bit easier to relate information to family members who are not into the details of DNA and genealogy but are impressed with the confirmations of the relationships. Showing eight generations is really cool with this format!
Posted by: Paul Weimer | December 14, 2019 at 11:38 AM