I submitted my DNA to FamilyTreeDNA as part of the Ches(t)nut project. I had the 12-marker test.   Initially, I found that I was not closely related to any of the 13 other Chestnuts who participated.   A year later,   I received a message from a man who said that we must be related because our DNA match.   This man's name was not Chestnut; his grandfather was a Chestnut, but was not married to his grandmother, and his father took his mother's last name.   His grandfather was not a real parent to his father, and thus he knew almost nothing of his father's side of the family, hence his entry to FamilyTreeDNA.   He knew his grandfather's name and that of his great grandfather.   After further research, we found out that his great grandfather was the brother of my grandfather.   This was a great discovery for my second cousin-once removed, because he was able to find out about the history of the Chestnut family, going back to Ireland, which is exactly what he was seeking.    Over the succeeding months, we exchanged information and eventually met, even though we live thousands of miles apart.  We keep in touch regularly.   This kind of discovery is what genealogy is all about.  Paul Cotter Chestnut Palo Alto, CA --------------------------------------------------------------------------   In a message dated 8/24/2009 1:37:31 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,     KENTUCKYSHAMROCK@aol.com<mailto:KENTUCKYSHAMROCK@aol.com> writes:   Has  anyone submitted their a male DNA sample to FAMILY TREE DNA?   If so was  it of any help?   My immediate family has submitted DNA for Connor/Conroy  and  McCarthy   lines.   Would be interested in anybody's experience.     Regards,   Monica McCarthy