Ancestry is excited to deliver SideView 2.0, a significant update that improves how we organize your DNA by parent*. Since its launch in 2022, SideView has revolutionized genetic genealogy by organizing a person’s DNA into maternal and paternal sides without requiring either parent to be tested. This breakthrough allowed customers to see exactly which regions, matches, and traits came from each parent, answering some of the biggest questions in family history.

SideView 2.0 uses industry-leading science to enhance and expand these insights. SideView 2.0 can improve the organization of your DNA by parent, increase the number of matches assigned to a parent, and improve the “by parent” results in your regions, journeys, and traits. 

How SideView 2.0 works

To organize your DNA by parent, SideView 2.0 (like the original SideView) finds pieces of DNA that are identical between you and your DNA matches, and between your DNA matches and each other. Because a DNA match is usually related to you through only one branch of your family tree, we can figure out which matches are related to each other and split them into groups. 

While SideView laid the groundwork, SideView 2.0 introduces three major scientific enhancements:

1. Relationship "polarization": The algorithm now makes extra use of a subset of our match database that includes just close matches to instantly classify close relationships.
2. Second-degree connections: Instead of relying solely on matches who span multiple chromosomes, SideView 2.0 uses "matches of matches" to bridge gaps and align portions of your DNA into maternal or paternal parent groups.
3. Recombination breakpoint detection: Using AI-based tools, SideView 2.0 maps the exact boundaries where DNA swapped between grandparental lines, dividing your inherited maternal and paternal DNA into distinct ancestral segments.

What changes can you expect?

With the rollout of SideView 2.0, you may notice some changes to your DNA results:

• More complete match labeling: More of your DNA matches may now receive a parent-level label.
• “By parent” results: Features like Matches by parent, Regions by parent, Traits by parent, and Journeys by parent all depend on how SideView organizes your DNA. After being reprocessed with SideView 2.0, some of your “By parent” results may switch from Parent 1 to Parent 2, or vice versa. 
• Changes to your ancestral regions: The way SideView 2.0 organizes your DNA may impact how we read and apportion your ancestral region results. You may see some region percentages change, or you may gain or lose entire regions.
• Gain or loss of Journeys: Your ancestral journey assignments depend on who you match in our database. Because new matches may have appeared or been removed since your results were last calculated, you may gain or lose journeys when your DNA is reprocessed with SideView 2.0.

*Access to SideView 2.0 results requires an Ancestry subscription. Not yet an Ancestry subscriber? Sign up today.