It's easy to get caught up in the wording of this definition. Think of your family tree like a set of stairs. You and your DNA match start walking up the stairs. When you both reach the same landing holding your common ancestor, that ancestor, or ancestral couple, is your most recent common ancestor (MRCA). Now, it might be three stairs for you, and 5 for them, but the MRCA is always on that first shared landing.

It is easier with an example: Who is the MRCA between you and your first cousin? It is your grandparents. Yes, you share great grandparents as well, but your grandparents are your closest share ancestors, and therefore your MRCA. But remember that your grandparents are also the MRCA for you and your niece as well.

Find your MCRA with your generation of connection. Learn more here. https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/...

Learn how to organize your DNA matches here. https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/...

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