This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ksaxe Surnames: McConnell Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.mcconnell/2507/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Jean and Joan, You are right about the difficulties many of us face finding male line descendants to participate in projects like the Clan Donald DNA Project. I was able to find one McConnell cousin who is pretty closely related to me rather easily, but finding another cousin from the line to confirm it took more time. I have the same problem that you have with your McConnells on a few of my other lines. My maternal grandfather and his brother were the last of their male line, and they both died before the era of DNA testing for genealogy. The story with some of my other families is similar. I have taken a look at my family tree and given some thought as to which of my relatives have the most unique DNA contributions from our ancestors, and this has helped me prioritize my DNA testing expenditures. Because ordering multiple DNA tests is not cheap, I am also working on collecting DNA samples from some family members that could be tested later, when I have saved up some money and when prices may be cheaper and other tests become available. It is possible to buy kits to use for saving samples, and you can even save samples taken by swabbing the inside of a relative's mouth with several Q-tips. I was told that 10 Q-tips would yield a sample large enough for multiple tests. Such samples should be stored in a clean paper bag in a dark, dry place for optimal preservation. Jean, since your aunt is the granddaughter of your McConnell ancestor, approximately one fourth of her autosomal DNA is from him, and approximately one fourth of her autosomal DNA is from each of her other grandparents. If other relatives of your aunt can be found and tested, you might be able to learn something about which portions of her DNA were inherited from her McConnell family. If members of your McConnell family that you can't connect with a paper trail were also tested, then you might be able connect using DNA results. There will probably be more helpful and affordable autosomal DNA tests available during the next few years, making this sort of testing involving multiple family members practical for many of us. Kirsten Saxe, McConnell researcher This post is a response to others made on the McConnell message board and mailing list during late March, 2008. 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.