Below is the answer I received after emailing the FTDNA center. I just wanted to know just how much it would help in finding our lines if we extended our markers from 25 to 37. I think if you do have close matches it might help to prove if both of you are indeed closer kin than you might think with the 25 marker match. Then again you might find out your common relative might be further back than first thought. It would also help prove if both have proven the correct line. That is where you documented proof would be very important. DNA and documented proof goes hand in hand. If both are used together it make for a very strong case that you have the right line. Beulah <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Additional markers help us to narrow down how closely related you might be even further. For example, with a 25/25 match, we can say there is a 90% chance you share a common ancestor who lived within the last 10 generations, or about 250 years. For a 24/25 match, that figure is 16 generations or about 400 years, and for a 23/25 match, that figure is 23 generations. On the other hand, if you continue to match at 37 we can narrow down that time period. For an exact match at 37 markers, there is a 90% chance your most recent common ancestor lived within the last 5 generations, or about 125 years. For a 36/37 match, that figure is 8 generations or about 200 years, and for a 35/37 match it is 12 generations or about 300 years. Basically, adding additional markers helps us to refine our estimate of when the most recent common ancestor might have lived. E-mail any time, Eileen Krause Anthrogenealogy Response Center Family Tree DNA _http://www.familytreedna.com_ (http://www.familytreedna.com/) 713-868-1438 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>