This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: DebraNowell Surnames: Dunbar Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.dunbar/1176/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Dunbar DNA Project Update We have 149 participants in the Dunbar Project and we need many more! With Christmas just around the corner what better gift to give or receive than discovering your genetic ancestry. In October, I attended a conference for Project Administrators at Family Tree DNA in Houston, Texas for some in-depth DNA training. Family Tree DNA is the testing company found to be the best in the business and we utilize them to process our DNA test kits. I am a volunteer who is adamant about discovering my Dunbar ancestry. If you're tracing your Dunbar ancestors, you'll want to take a Y-DNA test. Like surnames, Y-DNA is passed down from father to son to son, generation after generation virtually unchanged. Because of this, you can find close Dunbar ancestors as well as very ancient Dunbar ancestors. You must be male with the Dunbar surname or find a male Dunbar relative to test. If you are female, with no male Dunbar ancestors to test, you now have the option to take a Family Finder test. This tests the Autosomal chromosomes which include all branches of your family tree. Males can also take this test. While Y-DNA can track a direct male lineage back 1000 years, Family Finder is limited in the number of generations it can confidently predict a genetic match. (i.e. three generations.) Family Finder was just introduced this year and is still in its infancy. Family Tree DNA just announced their Annual Holiday Sale which runs through Dec. 31. To learn more about the Dunbar DNA Project please visit: http://www.DunbarDNA.org Debra Dunbar Nowell - Dunbar DNA Administrator - DunbarDNA AT gmail.com Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.