Larry, I agree with Eric that the more markers that match the better the probability that two individuals shared a common ancestor. However, I think it rare indeed that he found a relative based on a12/12 match. The report from FamilyTreeDNA that he matched another person 12/12 didn't mean they were related, it only gave him a person to contact. Then they established the relatedness based on the genealogy paper trail. My cousin, for whom I serve as contact person, has 12/12 matches with 165 men. I have not tried to contact all these men as potential relatives, because I know that they probably do not share a common ancestor with my cousin unless they match on more than 12 markers. It does tell me that most likely they all came from the same geographical area. My cousin matches 54 men on at least 23 out of 25 markers. Again, I do not believe that is enough to indicate they are related. There are 7 men who match my cousin on at least 35 of 37 markers. So far we have established that he is probably related to four of those 7 men, and I hope to establish more. These men were not acquainted with each other prior to sending the DNA sample, so DNA is a very valuable tool in genealogy. Since the CARROLL project is through FamilyTreeDNA, I think the best place to learn of the probabilities for relatedness is at their website. Go to http://www.familytreedna.com/dna101.html Click on each link on the left, but especially "Understanding 37-Marker Matches" Personally, I would not say that DNA proves that you shared a common ancestor with another person with anything less than 35/37 markers. I really believe that all 67 alleles should be plotted, but so far there aren't many records with which to compare 67. I think there will be more as time goes on. Lura CARROLL Southard >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Olson" <[email protected]> To: "L Carroll" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 12:13 AM Subject: Re: [CARROLL] The DNA results : Dear Larry, : : No amount of matching markers MAKES anyone relatives, but the more matches : the better the chances are. I found a second cousin with only 12/12 marker : matches, with surname Carroll.... I only KNOW that because we then : compared family trees and have the same great grandfather... Without the : testing we would never have had each other's email addresses. When you : submit a DNA sample you also usually submit your contact information... : : Eric : : >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> : > [Original Message] : > From: L Carroll <[email protected]> : > To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> : > Date: 8/6/2007 11:27:43 AM : > Subject: Re: [CARROLL] The DNA results : > : > Eric, : > How many markers do we need to match before they are our relative? : > Larry Carroll >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. : > ----- Original Message ----- : > From: "Eric Olson" <[email protected]> : > To: "V.A. Austin" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> : > Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 8:40 AM : > Subject: Re: [CARROLL] The DNA results : > : > > Please enter your test results in YSearch.com : > > : > > Eric