Hi Charlotte: Never fear to ask questions. It's all part of the fun. Yours cover quite a mix of subjects, so let me try to sort them out one at a time. Yes. A Y-DNA search will only work with male samples. And the results will only correlate --- that is the operative word --- with the particular male surname line being checked. In the example you give, your son's Y-DNA will come only from his father. And it will match only that particular male line on backwards. That said, there are all kinds of ways that maternal M dna can be, and is, used. Your example of matching with your son is as good a one as any. But it will not help with male line surnames. I am far from competent to conduct a technical, scientific seminar on all this. So before I confuse you too much it might be worth your while to take a look at the ftdna home page; www.ftdna.com . On the right hand side there are some links. I myself would look first under the subject "More / Inheritance Chart". Also under "Tutorials". Switching to your interest in Ira KNOWLTON, there are records of maybe 6-10 of that name in the late 1700s on into the next century. The trick is to sort them out. Since you know where he is buried, I would suggest that you check that first. There is a good probability that there are records on file there, or from some associated source; with any luck information from a death certificate, which can provide a great deal of very useful information. Regards, and many thanks for your interest. carlisle knowlton Charlotte Coates wrote: >CK...of course I have a question. SCOL is in the process of doing a DNA >check on the SUTPHINs. However, the service request only MALE relatives. Is >this case similar? I am a great granddaughter from N.J. of IRA KNOWLTON. I >know of no male relatives, in fact I am at a stumbling block to find out >much about him, I do know where he is buried and that he served in the Civil >War. That's more than you wanted to know but now I have recently had a DNA >test completed to ascertain if the male child I gave up for adoption 40 >years ago and has recently found me was indeed my son. Yes, he is and we are >delighted. Can that test be used? Can my DNA be used, whether this test or a >new one? Did I say "A" question? > >I will look forward to hearing from you. >charlottecoates@carolina.rr.com > >