It's time for an update on the Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project. Both the Clan MacLaren Society (Scotland) and the Clan MacLaren Society of North American have now endorsed this DNA project. Genetic genealogy can be a powerful tool and provide help in building our genealogies. My purpose is to use the DNA results as a tool to help sort out the many different MacLaren lines in the Clan files. The results can also be useful to MacLarens in pointing the way toward possible connections and perhaps help indicate where you need to search for paper evidence. The database of results is slowly growing, but I would like many more MacLarens/McLarens (or any of the other surnames of the Clan including spelling variants) to join the project. The Lawrence surname, if Scottish, can be a MacLaren. The more we have in the database, the more likely it is that we will get matches between members. I am especially interested in getting members from the documented MacLaren lines that are in my files; however, I am also interested in any MacLaren/Pat(t)son/Lawson/Law/Low(e)/Lawrence, etc. who wants to join. This, of course, includes all the spelling variants of MacLaren and the other surnames. There are now 49 people in the project: 40 with results back, two with partial results back, four who have submitted their kits and are waiting on their results, and three who are either waiting for their kits or haven't returned them yet. There have been several successes, including a close match between a member from Scotland and a member from California. They have corresponded and believe they know their common ancestor. For those who are concerned about how the DNA sample is acquired, it is just a cheek swab -- very painless. I do encourage any Lawrence, if Scottish, to join the Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project. If you are interested, or have questions, contact me at bobmclaren@earthlink.net Bob McLaren Chairman, Genealogy Committee, Clan MacLaren Society of North America Administrator, Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project Robert McLaren bobmclaren@earthlink.net Why Wait? Move to EarthLink.