Ancestor Projects let you group DNA kits that share a common ancestor, ancestral origin, or research focus so members can collaborate, compare matches, and identify shared lineages. This article walks you through Requesting your own project, managing your project, and some common questions.
Before You Start
You must have at least one DNA kit uploaded and processed on your GEDmatch account.
Step 1: Check Whether a Suitable Project Already Exists
Before requesting a new project, browse the existing Ancestor Projects directory to confirm none already cover your research focus. Joining an existing project is usually more productive than creating a parallel one — you immediately gain access to other members' kits and shared research.
2. Navigate to the Ancestor Projects section from your dashboard.
3. Search the directory by surname, location, ethnicity, or time period.
4. If you find a project that matches your research, request to join it instead of creating a new one.
Step 2: Request a New Ancestor Project via Support
If no existing project covers your research focus, new Ancestor Projects are created by the GEDmatch team via a support request. Here's how:
2. Click Create a Ticket (or "Submit a Ticket").
3. From the request type / category dropdown, choose "Create Ancestor Project".
4. In the Description field, provide the project details our team will need:
◦ A Project name
◦ A brief description of the project
◦ At least one administrator email address that is a GEDmatch account
◦ A list of at least 50 GEDmatch kits to seed the project with (in a .txt file, one kit per line please)
◦ If you want the 'Join' button or not (we default to not)
◦ Optionally, a Facebook, FTDNA, or other external group website URL
5. Submit the ticket.
6. Our team will review your request and reply with the next steps. Once the project is set up, you'll be notified and can begin inviting members.
After Creating: Managing Your Project
Once your project exists, you become the project administrator. As admin you can:
· Approve or decline join requests from other GEDmatch members who want to add their kits.
· Add kits to the project.
· Remove kits from the project if needed.
· Update the project description and message of the day/rules as research evolves.
· Update the project administration and contact information.
· Compare kits within the project using GEDmatch's matching tools to identify shared segments and triangulate common ancestors.
· See a list of all kits and members of your projects.
Common Issues When Creating a Project
"My kit doesn't appear when I try to add it."
This is almost always because the kit is set to Private (Research). Go to Manage Your DNA Resources, find the kit, and change its research status to Public or Private. Wait a few minutes and try again.
“Does my kit have to be public to be in a project?”
No, a private kit can be a part of a project, but it will not show up in the results table unless you are the kit owner.
"I have a public kit, but it can’t be added — why can't I use it?"
There is a high probability that your kit is a base kit for a Superkit that you have created. If you have a Superkit, we require that kit to be used instead of the base kits, as comparing against Superkits generates more accurate results.
"I can't find a Create Project button in the app."
There isn't one — Ancestor Projects are set up by the GEDmatch team. Submit a ticket via the Support Portal as described in Step 2 above and we'll handle the setup for you.
"How long does it take for my project to be created after I submit the ticket?"
Our team reviews new project requests as quickly as possible. You'll receive a reply with next steps once the request has been reviewed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kits can I add to a project?
There is no hard limit on the number of kits that can be part of an Ancestor Project. Larger projects with more members generally produce better results for identifying shared ancestors.
Can I request more than one project?
Yes. Submit a separate ticket for each project request, with the details for each one in the Description field.
Can I make a private project visible only to invited members?
Project visibility and privacy settings may vary. Mention your visibility preference in your ticket Description and our team will let you know what's possible.
Can I delete a project I created?
Yes. Submit a Support ticket and our team will help you remove a project or transfer administration to another member.
What benefits do Tier 1 customers get?
If you have a Tier 1 membership, you can save your results from a comparison to a tag group to use the MKA tools with.
If you run into a problem not covered above, contact GEDmatch Support with your kit number, the exact error message, and screenshots if possible.