Tom asked... >The privacy issue is the biggest hurdle in my family as well. > >Could a sample be submitted without identifying the donor in any way >for a couple of generations back and just give the family tree from >oldest known to, say, three or four generations ago? There are several ways that privacy can be protected beyond the protection already afforded us by the folks at Family Tree DNA. (See http://www.ftdna.com/privacy.html for more information.) There are three issues to consider: the identity of the participant, the identity of the person who pays for the kit, and the identity of the person to whom the kit is mailed. Let's say that John Doe Bowles is willing to test, but he does not want anyone connected with Family Tree DNA to know who he is. Nor does he want the information obtained from his DNA sample to be associated with him in any database. What John needs is someone who is willing to be the go-between for him. It can be anyone he chooses. For the sake of our example, let's say that John chooses you. Depending on the level of John's concern for privacy, he may ask you order the kit for him, have it sent to your address, and pay for it with your own check or credit card for which he will reimburse you (or not, depending on your arrangement with him). That just leaves the issue of his name. That can easily be handled by using the name of an ancestor such as his great-great uncle Billy Bob Bowles. As far as the information provided to the surname group, we take pains to share only that which the participant wishes us to. I discourage individuals from listing any information that can tie them directly to the tree, such as the names of parents, or other living relatives. I also make every effort to not directly identify the participants by name in messages to the list. Security is an issue, and we should not make light of it. However, with the safeguards that are in place, no one should feel that his privacy is threatened by participating in the Bowles DNA project. Hope this helps. Charlie Hartley Bowles DNA Project Administrator [mailto:hartley@iglou.com]