Since DNA recombination is a random process, it’s possible you won’t both inherit matching DNA, even though you share a common ancestor. You can see an example of this process in the diagram below …

May 3, 2025 · Not all biological relatives appear in your DNA matches. That doesn’t mean they aren’t related — it just means the match didn’t register. Sometimes, the DNA shared is too small to detect, or …

Dec 3, 2023 · When trying to figure out why your two cousins don't match each other, the first thing that you should consider is that they don't actually share a common ancestor. Both of your cousin DNA …

Jun 3, 2024 · This is true even if traditional genealogy has led you to a common ancestor with your match. You might truly be a 4th cousin to that match through Mary Smith, but one or both of you …

Jul 15, 2021 · Though they did not match one another, they both shared DNA because both matched with another relative from a third child of their most recent common ancestral couple.

May 10, 2018 · This is due to the random nature of how DNA shifts around during transmission through the generations. The nicely illustrated example is in the early pages of the document and is worth a …

The close family category and all cousin categories are based on how much DNA you share. Because of this, more distant relatives may not always show up in the expected categories.

Feb 27, 2022 · The following table shows the information provided by the three main testing companies on the probability that two cousins will share enough DNA for the relationship to be detected.

Wondering why you don't share more DNA matches with your mother, or why you're not seeing a surname you expect? We'll explain a few of the possible reasons.

You don’t share the same amount of DNA with your relatives. To understand why, let’s review how genetic inheritance works. You get half of your DNA from each parent and only half of their DNA. …