Cousins: Would anyone be interested in a DNA project for the PARKER surname? I have little hope left of finding the family of my Isham PARKER b abt 1815, unknown. Last known residence, Weakley Co. TN 1880. Surname DNA testing might connect me to another PARKER family. The test that is used is the Y chromosome test. The Y chromosome determines whether a child is male or female. Males have an XY chromosome pair, females have an XX chromosome pair. The Y chromosome is passed from father to son for generations without change. It can be used to track the male PARKER line backward. Y chromosome testing cannot be used if your PARKER ancestor was female. But you might be able to locate a male PARKER descendent from your PARKER line for testing. The DNA test does NOT tell you who your ancestor was, or when or where he lived. The value of the DNA test lies in the comparison of the DNA from one PARKER male with the DNA of another PARKER male. If the two samples match, then we are almost certain that the two people share a common ancestor. The DNA sample is obtained by using a paper swab to wipe the inside of the cheek, it is painless. The cost of the test is $170, if we do it as a group surname project. The company that is doing most of the DNA for genealogy is Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) their web page is: http://www.familytreedna.com/ We have started a DNA project for our WEST surname, and I am excited about the potential use of this new technology for DNA. We need commitments from 6 people to get the discounted rate from FTDNA. Contact me if you are interested. Dennis West in Knoxville, TN