My wife is a Burns, so we are interested in that line. If you are tracing a David Burns/Margaret Franks line from Grant County, KY, please contact us. As to your DNA project, may I share a little personal experience about the DNA tests. I am registered with the Spencer DNA group in Family Tree (FT) DNA. I have had the original 12 marker test, and was told that I had three perfect matches. However when I contacted the two that had e-mail, we were not able to match up on anything. Then I re-read the information from FT DNA, and found out why. When we have a "perfect match", it only means that within 14.5 generations there is a 50% chance of a perfect match. Likewise if we go back 48 generations there is a 90% chance of a perfect match, or 62.4 generations to get a 95% chance. From me to my earliest known Spencer, is only seven generations. Somewhere in the next seven generations is the 50% chance of a "perfect match", etc. How many of us can go back 48 generations, or 62.4 generations ? So my Spencer family history is "matched" to mine IF we can go back enough generations, which I doubt many can, unless they are royalty. Look how many of us get stalled at less than seven generations. DNA from a genealogical standpoint is mute in most cases, as I see it. The use of DNA to match one person to another in a criminal case or one on one is good technology, but not of much use for the average genealogist. The DNA labs say the chances improve IF you have the more expensive tests, but still no guarantee that the findings will help. Del and Dot (Burns) Spencer, in Colorado ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norma R Farmilo" <norma@naples.net> To: <BURNS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 4:58 PM Subject: Burns DNA > I'm now the Administrator for the Family Tree Burns DNA Project. The test is so easy - just swab the inside of your cheek. The 12 Marker test is good for genealogy purposes only. It will tell within 14 generations if you are related. This is the next step in proving your research and pointing you in the right direction. Please join us. Write to me, Norma Burns Farmilo norma@naples.net > > ______________________________