Main contributor: Craig Kanalley
chromosome browser
A screenshot of the MyHeritage Chromosome Browser (click to enlarge)

A Chromosome browser is a tool that allows you to see unique DNA segments that you share with another DNA match or a group of two or more DNA matches. It is typically represented by 23 lines, one for each chromosome, with the segments you share with another match or matches highlighted in color.

When you review a DNA match on MyHeritage, you will find the Chromosome Browser at the bottom of the screen. It is a visual representation of the segment data, which you can also export across all of your matches to view the segments you share with each match. Note that some matches may hide segment data and a chromosome browser would not display.

If you hover over a colored segment with your cursor, you should see technical DNA about that specific shared DNA segment:

  • Genomic position: Start and end location of the matching segment.
  • RSID (Reference SNP Cluster ID): Number used by scientists to identify specific SNPs in the genome.
  • Segment size: Length of the matching segment, measured in centiMorgans (cM). The longer the segment is, the higher the probability that you are related.
  • Number of SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) within the matching segment.

At the top right, you will find the option to download shared DNA info for that specific match.

Triangulated DNA Segments on a Chromosome Browser
Triangulated DNA Segments on a Chromosome Browser in MyHeritage

If you scroll to your Shared DNA Matches with any given match, you may see a mini chromosome browser icon with two pink bars on the right side of a shared match. If you click that, you will see a new chromosome browser on your screen highlighting any triangulated DNA segments with that match and the original match. This is a DNA segment (or multiple) that all three of you inherited, including the length of the segment and technical data if you hover over it.

It is important to remember that for each chromosome, you have one copy of DNA from your father and one copy of DNA from your mother. In order to determine whether a segment shared is paternal or maternal, you need to find shared matches on the same segments. If you match two different people on the same segment, but they don't match each other, then you have a match from each your father's side and your mother's side.

Tools like DNA Painter are based on the Chromosome Browser, allowing you to map segments of DNA that you can assign to paternal or maternal, plus specific ancestors, based on who you are matching and shared matches in common for those same segments.

Not all DNA testing services provide a chromosome browser. If you tested on a different DNA service, you can consider uploading your DNA to the MyHeritage database with an autosomal DNA transfer. This will allow you to find matches on MyHeritage and make use of the chromosome browser. Instructions on this process can be found here.

Explore more about Chromosome Browsers

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