Hello everyone, I am posting this message a day earlier than I had originally intended due to a change in my work schedule. I have been in contact with Relative Genetics to inform them that all test samples that can be expected from this round of testing have been received by them. I believe they received the last remaining sample last week and they have indicated that it would take about 6 weeks to test all samples. I take that to mean that we should have our results within 5 weeks, but it may be much sooner than that as the earlier samples have already been tested. It may not take them long at all to process the one or two remaining that were recently received. Our contact has indicated that she would check on this for us. The test results, when available, will be mailed to me for distribution to our participants. I will also make the results, along with the analysis provided by the lab, available at http://home.earthlink.net/~ppayne1203/page5.html so that anyone interested can view them. I want to stress the importance that once this initial Payne family DNA "baseline" database is established, that any male Payne descendant at any time in the future (be it 1 month, 1 year, or 100 years from now), can have their own DNA compared with the initial database. Any DNA lab can perform this testing. However, since Relative Genetics does not release or share their information with other labs (without the consent of participants) only they would be able to perform a complete analysis and add future samples received to our initial database. Having said that, regardless of the testing facility used, the "DNA markers" found in future testing will be the same as those used in our testing and can be readily compared with that information alone. It just won't be as detailed as the report that Relative Genetics could provide. I will continue to volunteer in this effort by assisting anyone wishing to have the testing performed. I can be reached at ppayne1203@earthlink.net Finally, advances are rapidly being made in DNA research and the number of markers that can be identified has already grown significantly. At the time of our testing, the lab was able to analyze 14 separate markers (2 more than previous testing provided in other family DNA testing projects). However, labs are now able to identify and test for a number of newly found markers. In general, the greater the number of markers identified better accuracy. The benefit of this to those of us who have already been tested is that we can always have Relative Genetics re-test our samples to include these new markers should that become desirable as our initial project expands, as I am sure it will. Once we are able to establish sound scientific data indicating relationships between branches of the Payne family, it is bound to encourage others to find their own place in our genetic pedigree chart. By combining this genetic pedigree with traditional genealogy, I am confident that knowledge of the Payne family will grow tremendously and solve many of the mysteries we have been confronted with previously. I look forward to sharing our results with you as soon as they are available. Sincerely, Patrick Payne