This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Allison, Ellison Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/hZ.2ADIB/704.2.1.1.2 Message Board Post: Dear Cathrine, Kathy and Doug, The ongoing Allison/Ellison Y-chromosome DNA project was designed to help us break down some of those "brick walls" and discover some new cousins with whom we can share genealogical research. Our Allison/Ellison DNA Project Results webpage is now online. The URL is: http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~allisonellisondna/index.htm Unfortunately, women can't participate in any surname DNA project, including the Allison/Ellison Y-chromosome DNA Project, because women don't inherit Y-Chromosome DNA...only men do. Y-Chromosome DNA is passed from father to son down through the generations just as surnames are passed from father to son. Since only men inherit the Y-chromosome, therefore only men can be participants in a Y-chromosome DNA Family Reconstruction Project. The Y-Chromosome DNA samples can only be provided by Allison or Ellison males who have the ALLISON / ELLISON Surname. I hope that makes sense. However, women can participate by encouraging a male relative with the Allison or Ellison surname to order a DNA sample kit and we can help pay for the DNA test. I paid for my brother's DNA test because I wanted him to become a participant in the Allison DNA Project. He's not very interested in genealogy, but he was willing to become a participant in the DNA project. My maiden name is Allison but, as I said above, women don't have Ychromosome DNA, so I had to enlist my brother as my family's representative in the DNA project. If you have any male relative (even a distant cousin) who HAS the ALLISON surname, he would be a very welcome new participant in the DNA project. If his his DNA score would match another participant's DNA score, you would know that your relative and another participant descend from the same Allison ancestor. Then you would want to share genealogical information and discover how your lines connect. The value of this DNA test lies in the comparison of the DNA from two or more Allison/Ellison males. If they have matching DNA scores, they will know that they share a common ancestor and they can share their genealogical research. The Family Tree DNA Company (FT-DNA) <http://www.familytreedna.com/> is the company that is analyzing the Y-Chromosome DNA samples to help us find connections between the various lines of ALLISONs / ELLISONs in the northern and southern states of the U.S, as well as in Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. FTDNA is located in Houston, Texas (USA). If you woud like more information about costs, how to order a DNA sample kit, etc., please contact me. Mary Allison Yonan Co-ordinator, Allison/Ellison DNA Project yonan@fgi.net