I read Liz Jones email with interest. I too have been involved using DNA to support my genealogical research for almost a year now. Using it, I had a wonderful breakthrough on a brick wall that had blocked 3 of us for over 20 years with an illegitimate birth in 1801. I found a male descendant of this line and tested his YDNA (a simple cheek swab is all that is needed). To our joy - he matched almost exactly with another person in the familytreedna database. We corresponded and discovered this persons ancestor had worked and lived in the same area, at the same time as my ancestor was born and also had other illegitimate children - some of whom were named in his will. At the time in question he was between wives, so one can imagine what may have happened. Now I can take that line back further with confidence, although with a different name. The joy of DNA is that it does not lie - which is more than I can say for many of our ancestors. I have often wondered how many of our female ancestors through force or a weak moment became pregnant and subsequently married a person who was not actually the father to cover it up. I administer the Pell and Brooker Projects at familytreedna.com. Regards Wendy