Dear Mike, Thanks for putting the proper web address for the project up on this line. I do struggle with computer skills - my training is all in history and linguistics. There is no minum number of participants, but to get a sampling of the various branches is helpful. The reason is we are trying to find out if all the Disbrows have a common ancestor, or if there are various descendants of different progenitors who simply share the same surname, whether by adoption, or some other non-paternal event. Also, I am glad you pointed out that one of our goals is not to prove that we are descended from Gen Desborough, but to find out if one or more branches are or are not descended from him. This is a simple and fool proof method of answering that question once and for all. If we can get samples of several different second and third cousins, we can determine the original haplotypes of the founder or founders. For example, the most common haplotypes for men from the British Isles are R1b and I. Other types are certainly present, and if it is one of these smaller haplotypes, we can pinpoint the ancestor's origin to a specific geographic location- for example, J2 would lead to the probability that the ancestor was of Roman origin. R1b is the original or "Celtic" type, while forms of I are Viking. Furthermore, there are various subdivisions of these groups, so that I1a, for example means Danish or Anglo-Saxon Viking, while R1a or I with other allele signatures tells one that the ancestor came from Norway. I even know of 2 British men who found out that their haplotype was Q-from India- which probably means that their ancestors in Britain were gypsies. I know the vocabulary is technical and that is one reason I have offered to help coordinate the project. I have been studying these terms and have been working with other projects, so am familiar with them and can help people understand there is more to the project than just the question of Gen Desborough. Thanks for writing. Mary Jo