Don't feel bad about being in the "unassigned" group. About 40% of all test subjects have no match "out of the gate." The best way to speed up getting a match is to examine your paper pedigree and start tracking down "paper cousins" to test. I would even begin with a first or second cousin. One basic question everyone needs to answer is whether they have an NPE in their lineage. http://dgmweb.net/genealogy/DNA/General/NPE_Resolutions.shtml I don't want to alarm you, but about 10% of people tested turn out NOT to match other descendants of their paper ancestor (i.e., they have an NPE), so it's not an idle question to answer. With regard to mtDNA, if you test just your HVR1 and HVR2 (HyperVariable Regions 1 and 2), you will likely be placing yourself in a rather large group of women. As you say, it only broadly points to your deep roots. However, if you test your mtDNA FGS (Full Genetic Sequence), you can greatly narrow down the possibilities. Not enough people have as yet tested their FGS for there to be a useful database to search, but eventually there will be. I've tested my FGS, and the only person I match, so far, is a first cousin: http://dgmweb.net/genealogy/DNA/mtDNA-T-haplotree-DGM.shtml Diana > -----Original Message----- > From: brown-bounces@rootsweb.com On Behalf Of Barbara Brown Allen > Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2009 12:27 PM > To: brown@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [BROWN] All DNA testees > > Hello BROWNs: This DNA business has been one of the most > frustrating experiences of my life! My brother Blake Brown > volunteered his DNA for me, and so far we have not connected > with ANYONE, and in fact, my brother is in the "unique group" > because of it. He is haplogroup R1a; kit number is 41860. I > would LOVE to meet a BROWN with an R1a halplogroup designation. > > Also, don't forget The Brown Society at brownsociety.org > where you can find my brother's test results. > > And then, of course, I just had to do my mtDNA test, didn't > I? Well, those results show only migration patterns, ethnic > & geographic origins. I can't imagine ever connecting with a > female relative based on the mtDNA results. > > Good luck, everyone! > Barbara > >