Kris, it has to do with the X and Y chromosomes. Females have the X; males have the X and Y, although they do not pass the X to their descendants. The Y stays with the male and is passed from male to male, allowing makes to compare DNA by surname. The X (mitochondria) stays with the female and is passed from female to female (i.e., I got mine from my mother, she got her's from her mother, etc.) This makes it impossible to track by surname since females take their husband's surname, and their female children have that same surname. I've oversimplified this explanation, however there is a good explanation with illustrations at http://www.familytreedna.com/tutorial_A.html Rhoda Copeland Bryant -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Kris Scruggs" <kscruggs@sun.hazelwood.k12.mo.us> > I have been watching these emails about the bryant DNA testing. May I ask > why it has to be a man? I am a bryant, what is different from my DNA than > my brothers. Was just wondering. > Kris > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: > Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 9:15 PM > Subject: Re: [BRYANT] DNA testing at sorenson > > > Oh Wow! Thanks John! I entered the HVR1 and HVR2 results from Family Tree, > and found 59 matches - with pedigrees. I'm going to have to study these. > > Rhoda Copeland Bryant > > -------------- Original message -------------- > From: "John Bryant" > > > A couple of people are being tested at fee labs. > > A idea, also get tested at sorenson for free, the result take 18 months or > > more to get posted but there a check on the fee lab and they test several > > different markers than fee lab. > > > > John Bryant > > 6JN52 Y-Search > > R1b1c* > > http://www.familytreedna.com/public/r1b/ > > Irish Type III > > http://au.geocities.com/t120r61/Irish_Type_III.htm > > #57501 at O'Brien project > > http://www.familytreedna.com/public/obrien/ > > Josiah Bryant Cooperative Research Group > > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ourbryants/index.htm > > > >