In IGG, what is the purpose of constructing family trees?

• A. To identify potential relatives to guide the search for the decedent
• B. To estimate age from bones
• C. To determine the cause of death
• D. To compare dental records

Answer: (A)

In Investigative Genetic Genealogy, building family trees serves to turn genetic matches into a searchable genealogical map. By mapping how known matches are related—parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins—you can triangulate the decedent’s likely lineage and narrow the pool of potential identities to a manageable number of individuals who could be the decedent or closely related to them. This genealogical framework lets investigators verify identity by cross-checking with records, timelines, and other corroborating information, rather than relying on bone analysis, cause-of-death findings, or dental record comparisons. Those other methods operate on different evidence and techniques, while family trees in IGG specifically guide who to contact and which lineages to pursue to uncover the decedent’s identity.