Before you jump into DNA testing with two feet, please do go to the links I gave in my last message and read up on what DNA testing will and won't tell you. Generally speaking, if you and another Bowles descendent test with the 25 marker test and match up on all 25 markers, what that means is that there is a 50% likelihood that you share a common ancestor within the last 7 generations; a 90% likelihood that you share a common ancestor within the last 23 generations, and a 95% likelihood that you share a common ancestor within the last 30 generations. While these numbers can be tweaked a bit, what they should tell you is that this test will NOT tell you definitively if you share great-grandfathers. We won't get into the question of mutations in markers here, read the info on the websites I listed. So what good is DNA testing? What you need to do is use it in relation with what you already know from other documentation. For example if you know that your Bowles ancestor was in Barren County KY between 1800-1820, and you match up with someone else who also had such an ancestor then there is a stronger likelihood that these ancestors were related somehow. Don't forget the negative side of DNA testing. It can help you to rule out relationships more quickly than it can confirm them. Then there is always the possibility of two folks who really believe that they are descended from the same ancestor, and have documentation to prove it, finding out that one of them isn't a Bowles descendent after all. If you can't handle the possibility that this might be true of you, don't test. What about the cost? Well, the last time I checked the cost for a 25 marker Y-DNA test was $169. This is the group rate. Yes it is a bit high, but think for a minute how much you already have invested in genealogy in both time and money. Truthfully the more folks who get involved with this, the more likely it is that you will learn something valuable. Feel free to ask questions, but do read the stuff on the websites. Charlie

I would really like to get in touch with someone who has some information on the Bowles from Ky. that moved to the lubbock texas area.. James C Bowles. I beliveve he had brothers and sisters also. Georgie and Ada I believe are his sisters. If anyone can help me please let me know.. Thank you Gina Charles Hartley <hartley@iglou.com> wrote:Before you jump into DNA testing with two feet, please do go to the links I gave in my last message and read up on what DNA testing will and won't tell you. Generally speaking, if you and another Bowles descendent test with the 25 marker test and match up on all 25 markers, what that means is that there is a 50% likelihood that you share a common ancestor within the last 7 generations; a 90% likelihood that you share a common ancestor within the last 23 generations, and a 95% likelihood that you share a common ancestor within the last 30 generations. While these numbers can be tweaked a bit, what they should tell you is that this test will NOT tell you definitively if you share great-grandfathers. We won't get into the question of mutations in markers here, read the info on the websites I listed. So what good is DNA testing? What you need to do is use it in relation with what you already know from other documentation. For example if you know that your Bowles ancestor was in Barren County KY between 1800-1820, and you match up with someone else who also had such an ancestor then there is a stronger likelihood that these ancestors were related somehow. Don't forget the negative side of DNA testing. It can help you to rule out relationships more quickly than it can confirm them. Then there is always the possibility of two folks who really believe that they are descended from the same ancestor, and have documentation to prove it, finding out that one of them isn't a Bowles descendent after all. If you can't handle the possibility that this might be true of you, don't test. What about the cost? Well, the last time I checked the cost for a 25 marker Y-DNA test was $169. This is the group rate. Yes it is a bit high, but think for a minute how much you already have invested in genealogy in both time and money. Truthfully the more folks who get involved with this, the more likely it is that you will learn something valuable. Feel free to ask questions, but do read the stuff on the websites. Charlie --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? The all-new My Yahoo! � What will yours do?