Michael, the way I see DNA helping our research is through determining how or if we are all related to each other. I have proven my line pretty solid back to the early 1800's, but past that it gets pretty fuzzy. Who knows, maybe you and I are close cousins. I am immediately going to try to recruit one of Micah Sellers (1786-1876) decendants to join in this project. I am fairly certain that Micah and my GGGgrandfather were brothers, but I have not yet been able to prove that. Ed In a message dated 10/14/03 2:39:17 PM Central Daylight Time, msellers@acresgaming.com writes: Maybe I'm missing something on this, but without the presence of the DNA of an ancestor for the purpose of comparison I don't see how it can be "one of the tools available to help sort out the past". I can see its usefulness and purpose in terms of determining if people alive today are related or not, but I guess I don't see how it would help determine if we are related to someone already passed without having their DNA as well. Please feel free to clue me in on what I'm missing. Michael Sellers -----Original Message----- From: EdSellers@aol.com [mailto:EdSellers@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 11:51 AM To: SELLERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SELLERS] Sellers DNA Testing Marie, I do not wish to become the administrator of a surname project website as suggested at the following website,<www.familytreedna.com/surname.asp> but I would certainly be willing to be one of the six males to submit DNA at a cost of $99 each. I sure hope this comes to fruition. Ed Sellers In a message dated 10/14/03 1:13:31 PM Central Daylight Time, tsellars@hlsk.com writes: Marie: I am no expert in DNA but from what I have read, a father's Y Chromosome is passed to his son's virtually unchanged. Based on this information we would be able to determine how many Sellers lines we are working with and which line a person is descended from. It is also able to tell an approximate time frame of the common ancestor. One web site I read indicated that at least 6 males would be needed for the research. DNA testing is not the total answer for genealogy but just one of the tools available to help sort out the past. The cost is expensive but not out of reach if we have enough people to volunteer. Tommy Sellars Thomas W. Sellars, CPA HEREFORD, LYNCH, SELLARS & KIRKHAM, P.C. Tel (936) 756-8127 Ext 203 Metro (936) 441-1338 Fax (936) 756-8132 Firm website: www.hlsk.com