Hello Everyone! I have been awaiting a set of results in the Y-DNA Study... which have been quite slow in arriving. The anticipated results have not yet arrived, so I am proceeding with an announcement regarding an expansion of the testing program to include mtDNA testing. When I do receive the results in the Y-DNA study, I will make a further update at that time. As part of the new program, let me introduce Debby Peare, of the State of Maine. She has joined the Rootsweb Strong-List (it may be a bit of overload for her to join all of the other lists just yet), and has volunteered to construct and supervise a related mtDNA study. As you know, our DNA Project to this point has been a "Patrilineal" study of the male Y-DNA chromosome. The new project is a "Matrilineal" study of mt, or mitrocondrial, DNA. We each, both men and women, have a copy of mtDNA. Males have a copy of our mother's mtDNA; however, we cannot pass that copy to our children. Females not only have a copy of their mother's mtDNA but can also pass it on to each of their children. Note particularly that, barring mutations, the mtDNA copy passed from mother to daughter is identical through thousands of years. It takes considerable design-work, and cooperation from many genealogists who are not all limited to the patrilineal surnames in the Strong-Stronge-Strange-Strang-LeStrange & Armstrong DNA Study, to construct a useful project from a genealogical standpoint. It may be years before enough information is compiled by the various genealogists worldwide to do a useful job of comparing and tracing the Matrilineal genealogy of the participants in the study. We are going to try to help do just that. In addition, however, there are is immediate gratification for participants in the mtDNA project: The genesis for much of the Genealogical DNA Studying being done today is a book entitled "The Seven Daughters of Eve", written by Professor Brian Sykes of Oxford University in England based on his research of mtDNA. Later research has shown that there are at least 26 additional "Daughters", for a total of 33. Testing in the mtDNA project will result in participants' learning from which of the 33 "Daughters" they are descended. As another researcher has said, "I must admit that I am quite curious as to what emotions will surface when I gaze into the eyes of Oetzi, the 5300 year old Tyrolean "iceman", since we have the same mtDNA haplotype and therefore share a common ancestor - albeit some time back.... I wished to find out where each person's deepest known maternal ancestor came from to determine possible relationships within a genealogical timeframe..." You are invited to visit Debby Peare's new website, which is linked to the main Y-DNA Surname webpages and utilizes a discounted "group" pricing structure from Family Tree DNA; see: http://roseoftheknights.com/strongdna.html While it is too early to show any results for the mtDNA study, participants will be welcomed! Maybe YOU are related to The Iceman! {:-) Note, if you are a participant in the Y-DNA testing project, you are entitled to a additional discount against the cost of the mtDNA test. You can find the order and pricing structure on your personal page at FTDNA. If you elect to proceed with the additional testing, no further test samples are required; FTDNA can perform the testing from your existing sample. However, we would encourage you to submit a pedigree to Debby showing your maternal ancestry. This is an opportunity for persons to participate in the DNA Studies who previously were unable to participate in the Y-DNA project. You are all encouraged to visit Debby's new website, and join up! I am sure she will welcome inquiries from interested persons! Regards, Dave Strong ... DNA Study Coordinator & webmaster: Book I: RESEARCHING STRONG(E) AND STRANG(E) IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~donegalstrongs/contents.htm Database and manuscript. See especially Chap. 13, entitled "Lineages"; and Chapt. 15, "DNA Study" http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~donegalstrongs/dnastudy.htm & Book II: THE DONEGAL STRONG PUZZLE: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~donegalstrongs/indxdrft.htm Research and study of Counties Donegal and Fermanagh Strongs and related families. ==============================================================