Ellen, That is very interesting especially the tunnel! IF- all of the rest of the markers match - then the results will be exciting because we could *potentially* have a 34/37 match which FTDNA intreprets as a "related" match - that is, Group 3a and participant #8179 probably shared a common ancestor in the time period since surnames have been established. Even if we land up with a 33/37 match, FTDNA says the relationship is "probably related." See FTDNA's page on Genetic Distances for 37 markers for more information. http://www.familytreedna.com/GDRules_37.html There have been some projects that have had the third panel of markers (markers 26-37) match while the mutations have occurred in the first 25 markers. But the third panel of markers also has several fast mutating markers, so it will be interesting to see how this turns out. IF -- it turns out to be a "related" match of 34/37 or even 33/37, further research will need to be undertaken as the lineage for participant # 8179 only goes back to a George Pace of 1859. At this point, not enough is known about the George Pace line of 1859 but it might put a foot in the doorway in finding out more about the ancestry of the NC Paces of Group 3a especially, with additional research effort on the George Pace of 1859 line. Now to patiently await the DNA test results..... Rebecca genealogy@snuffy.britishlibrary.net wrote: It would certainly be exciting if the DNA shows a close relationship. Won't prove anything, I suppose, but very interesting indeed. Rebecca, can you tell us what conclusions could reasonably be drawn (if any) if all the other markers turn out to match? Ellen

Let's see if I can get my head round this. On the "rules" page FTDNA says of a 33/37 match: "If several or many generations have passed it is likely that these two lines are related through other family members. That would require that each line had passed a mutation and one person would have experienced at least 2 mutations. The only way to confirm is to test additional family lines and find where the mutations took place. " So the research that is needed is to find out if possible whether #8179's great grandfather or great great grandfather (or further back if possible) had any male siblings with descendants. If yes, and if any of them could be traced and agreed to participate, and if any of them showed an even closer match with 3a (say, a 35/37 match), that would be very convincing, have I got it right? Ellen