These postings have been most intriguing to me. Question: 1. is there a web site with info? 2. who is sponsoring this research? 3. why males only? 4. and JUST WHERE is the dna sample coming from for these old folks? Are bodies being exhumed? On the lighter side HG Wells once wrote something to the effect, If I can imagine something, someone will make it happen. At the same time the mathematician was saying that if trains went 35 miles an hour, people would be splashed against the side of the cars. Well, being a Star Treker from way back, I have often speculated at the amazing possibilities DNA research had for this great genealogy hobby. What fun to see that somewhere it is actually being done. Dorothy

At 07:12 AM 4/9/2000 -0400, you wrote: >These postings have been most intriguing to me. Question: >1. is there a web site with info? See the web site about the Y-chromosome DNA tests done to establish linkage between Sally Hemings and a member of the Thomas Jefferson family at: http://wsrv.clas.virginia.edu/~rjh9u/jeffhemm.html I am sure their are other websites that discuss DNA testing. I suggest you use the Search engine on your web brouser. >2. who is sponsoring this research? Their are NO financial sponsors of this project! The thought of doing a similar DNA study for the various Page lines is the idea of Patricia Page Wilcox, and I have posted the info on the Page list and am willing to take an active part including being tested as I have proven ancestry back to George Page of Branford, CT. Because of the relatively small cost ($300 each) of the study compared to the advantages of having the baseline data, we hope that other male Pages of these lines will come forward to be tested. >3. why males only? Males are the ones who have the necessary Y-chromosome DNA! Other DNA studies have used the mitochondrial DNA passed only from females to establish identity (e.g. remains of Tsar Nicholas's remains). I suggest you refer to encyclopedias for a much better and more detailed explanation of DNA and how it is used for genetic identification. >4. and JUST WHERE is the dna sample coming from for these old folks? Are >bodies being exhumed? The old folks will have exactly the same Y-chromosome DNA markers as their male descendants, except for minor changes caused by rare mutations; so, No old folks will have to be dug-up to produce the baseline data! Should they be dug-up, any DNA found in their teeth or bones could be tested and the markers established, which would be the same as their male descendants --- for hundreds of years to come. >On the lighter side HG Wells once wrote something to the effect, If I can >imagine something, someone will make it happen. At the same time the >mathematician was saying that if trains went 35 miles an hour, people would >be splashed against the side of the cars. Well, being a Star Treker from >way back, I have often speculated at the amazing possibilities DNA research >had for this great genealogy hobby. What fun to see that somewhere it is >actually being done. Dorothy The remains of Jesse James in Missouri were also recently identified through DNA testing. George W. Page

Hi there: I'm intrigued by this DNA discussion. There has been some talk about tracing back the Haverhill, CT PAGE line. As you probably know, Haverhill is a small town in the county of Suffolk, ENG. I guess that there were probably some emigrants from Suffolk who established the Haverhill in CT. PAGE is a relatively common name in Suffolk ENG and, up to now, I have traced my line back to the late 1700s to one William PAGE, farmer, of Wingfield, which is a small village in the north east of the county, close to the county line with Norfolk ENG. The question that I'm interested in is whether it is possible to take part in the DNA experiment from this side of the pond or whether you need to have the local lab actually take the sample. Alternatively, is the test a standard test and is it worth me seeing if I can get it done in the UK. If it is a standard test, what's it called so that I can call up some labs here and find out what the cost would be. If the cost variation is too great it would almost be worth flying to the US and getting a few days with my sister, who lives in Jacksonville, FL, as well as having the test done. Michael Page (Peterborough, Cambs, UK)