MyHeritage Releases Major Advancement in Genetic Genealogy: The Theory of Family Relativity™
February 27, 2019
Groundbreaking technology uses genealogy — both family trees
and historical records — to explain how DNA Matches are related
TEL AVIV, Israel & LEHI, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Genealogy?src=hash” target=”_blank”gt;#Genealogylt;/agt;–MyHeritage,
the leading global service for family history and DNA testing, revealed
today its latest innovation in genetic genealogy — the Theory of Family
Relativity™. This technology offers users, for the first time ever,
theories that utilize nearly 10 billion historical records and family
tree profiles to explain DNA connections. Until now, family history
enthusiasts used two distinct domains for making discoveries: the
paper-trail world of records and trees, and the biological world of DNA
connections. Now, MyHeritage has combined these two domains and
integrated them seamlessly.
The Theory of Family Relativity™ is based on a big data graph that
connects billions of data points drawn from thousands of databases on
MyHeritage, in real time. Every node on this graph represents a person,
and every edge depicts a blood relationship between two individuals that
is described in a family tree or a historical record; or a match between
two tree profiles that are likely to be the same person; or two records
that are likely to be about the same person. These connections between
people and records are established by MyHeritage’s industry-leading
matching technologies. MyHeritage engineers and algorithm experts led by
the company’s CTO, Sagi Bashari, developed a unique approach that allows
the big data graph to instantly compute all paths between millions of
blood relatives. The Theory of Family Relativity™ draws upon this
resource to construct the most plausible theories explaining how pairs
of people linked by a DNA Match on MyHeritage are related, using family
trees and historical records.
Previously, users who took a DNA test looking to find relatives were
faced with puzzling lists of thousands of distant relatives, without
many clues explaining the DNA connections. Now, for a growing percentage
of these DNA Matches, theories are provided by MyHeritage that explain
the precise relationship paths using trees and records. In these
theories, not only does genealogy illuminate DNA connections, but DNA
also helps separate fact from fiction in the genealogy and shows which
tree and record connections appear to be correct.
This technology uses millions of family trees on MyHeritage, as well as
the World Family Tree on Geni, which is replicated daily to MyHeritage,
and the single family tree of FamilySearch, which is also replicated
daily to MyHeritage under license. This combination results in the most
comprehensive family tree traversal available today. Additionally, the
technology utilizes billions of historical records on MyHeritage,
including all census records, as well as the MyHeritage Record
Detective™ technology that indicates whenever two records are about the
same person. For example: a theory that explains a DNA Match between two
users can begin in the family tree of the first user, traverse through a
series of matching trees into a census record, continue to a household
relative, who then matches into another tree, until the path completes
with the family tree of the second user. MyHeritage displays the
complete path of every theory, and explains every step along the way,
allowing the user to verify its accuracy. Each theory is presented with
a confidence level that is based on the confidence of the matches used
to construct it.
“Our new technology is a game changer in its scope and power and is a
tribute to our passion for developing the best genetic genealogy tools
for our users,” said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “Using
genealogy to explain DNA Matches, and using DNA to validate genealogy
matches, combines the best of both worlds. We expect this technology to
help people make new discoveries in their family history. With every day
that goes by, this technology grows even more powerful as more tree
profiles, historical records and DNA kits are added to our global
database.”
The Theory of Family Relativity™ feature is included for free with all
Premium, PremiumPlus, and Complete subscriptions on MyHeritage.
Individuals who upload their raw DNA data from other testing services to
MyHeritage who do not have a subscription can pay a one-time fee of $29
per DNA kit to unlock the Theory of Family Relativity™ and the full
range of advanced DNA features offered by MyHeritage.
To purchase a MyHeritage DNA kit, visit www.myheritageDNA.com
About MyHeritage
MyHeritage is the leading global service for family history and DNA
testing. As technology thought leaders, MyHeritage has transformed
family history into an activity that is accessible and instantly
rewarding. Its global user community enjoys access to a massive library
of historical records, the most internationally diverse collection of
family trees, and groundbreaking search and matching technologies.
Launched in November 2016, MyHeritage DNA is a technologically advanced,
affordable DNA test that reveals ethnic origins and previously unknown
relatives. Trusted by millions of families, MyHeritage provides an easy
way to find new family members, discover ethnic origins, and to treasure
family stories, past and present, for generations to come. MyHeritage is
available in 42 languages. www.myheritage.com
Contacts
MyHeritage
Rafi Mendelsohn
Director of PR & Social Media
Phone:
917-725-5018
Email: pr@myheritage.com