I thought I would report to the list at large the results of my inquiries into DNA studies involving Collins and also Melungeons. I admit I should have read the list archives first, as there was a big discussion in April of 2004 on this list about the Collins DNA project. In actuality there are two separate studies, one specifically for the Collins surname, and another Melungeon DNA project that includes Collins, among other surnames. Both projects are designed to test the male Y-Chromosome DNA. There is a test for the female Mitochondrial DNA, which both women and men can take. The mtDNA test will reveal the ancestry of your mother, her mother, and so on back to one of the approximately 20 so-called Daughters of Eve. As you can see, tracking mtDNA is quite difficult as children most often take the surname of their father, so mtDNA testing is beyond the scope of Y-Chromosome male DNA surname projects. (1) The COLLINS DNA project is through Relative Genetics of Salt Lake City. They are associated with Genetree and the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation but you will never find it that way. The Collins DNA project now has 12 members, apparently including a descendant of Old Thomas Collins who was a Melungeon. I say apparently, as the project does not seem to have a public website. To get to the project, go to www.relativegenetics.com and do a search on the Collins surname. It will lead you to the Collins group G2321. Rose Collins Lowther is the administrator. The cost for the basic 15 marker test is $95, and you can join from the website. The full 37 marker test is $195, with an intermediate range product as well. In my opinion, the basic 15 marker test is a good place to start, as you can always upgrade later if you want to. The basic 15 marker STR (Short Tandem Repeat) test will not only give you a string of numbers meaningless to most humans that can be compared to the numbers of the other participants to determine relationship, or lack of, but it will also provide an idea of your haplogroup and haplotype, which basically means male tribal ancestry. The basic 15 marker test will tell rather quickly if your male Collins line is or is not Melungeon. (2) The MELUNGEON DNA project is through Family Tree DNA of Houston. Bennett Greenspan, founder and leader of FTDNA, is the project administrator. Visit www.melungeons.com and in particular see: http://www.melungeons.com/articles/melungeondnaproject.htm Also, Nancy Morrison has a Melungeon email list. [ [email protected] ] Whether of not you believe your Collins line may be Melungeon, I found the Melungeon discussion interesting and worth looking into and reading, but in my humble opinion, I would stick with the Collins DNA project as it compares Collins to Collins. I do hope the Collins DNA project establishes a public website like many of the other surname projects. I will note with regret that my potential lead for a participant from our particular Collins line turned down the idea, although I still have hopes that his father may agree to participate. You really only need one participant from your line, but rounding up a willing male participant from your line is perhaps the most difficult part. Hope this was of interest and help, Clay Daniels