I have not followed the entire thread on this exchange on the DNA testing, but have great interest in the results as well as hoping that some of my Thomas men will someday be tested. I help with the Cowan, Cowen, Cowin,Etc. DNA Project. We now have 25 kits returned with two more ordered out today. Our testing is being done by Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) and the group rates make the testing within reason. The "collection" in the beginning of money is usually for the 1st 6 men - aftger the project is started, the tests can be ordered directly. To start a group project and get the group rate, you must have 6 men. I did not have to do that part of it, Bennett Greenspan took our list and fixed it. <g> We had a grant that paid for 9 men. When the grant money dried up and as interest grew each person paidfor their testing. Be sure to let people know that they pay postage on the kit both ways. The 12 marker test is nice, but you are not going to be happy with that over a long period of time so it saves $20 by doing the 25 marker test to start. Besides you then have one waiting peorid for results intead of two. It is a long long long wait even if it is only 4 to 6 weeks - the results can never seem to get to you quick enought. At this point, it is not a scam. FTDNA is just starting to get the word out about their testing and have arranged a way to let people know about them when you do surname searches at Ancestry.com - there will be a link to let you know that there is a surname project for you surname. There are over 11,000 kits that have been ordered. You learn as you go with this project, it is a private as you desire it to be and you can share as much info as you desire. You can elect to be compared with the entire DNA Database that grows daily or you can be compared only within your project. It is a well run business and appears to be a well run lab with good standards. If you have any real questions about them http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com will probably have the answer on their webpages that will help you. I know that I have had every question answered that I have ever had - as I said it is well run. The more people taking part in the tesing, the larger the database for your DNA to be compared. This is Y-DNA and they are only looking at a set group of markers, but they look at those same markers for each person. Our Cowan Project has had a lot of non-surname matches with in several of the groups. We have 4 main groups and of course one of those is the group that doesn't match any of the others. We have 10 men that make up our "large" group and they are all close matches and some exact matches, but many of them have no idea where they should connect - they are at brick walls and have been some for 50 plus years. At least now we know all of these men are kin. So it has made a big difference just knowigg what groups every one appears to fall within. It is wise to seak information about the project and we have been very pleased with FTDNA. I think that it is wonderful that you all are now thinking about a Thomas DNA Project. You need to also understand that some of the information gives results long before we desire to know or have a paper trail. I know where my Cowan line was before Ireland and Scotland - where we started early on in the world. I would of never thought that I had Centeral Asian markers, but my cousin tested out with them. If I were to place a bet and find me a male Thomas to be tested, I would bet that I will see Spainish and Centeral Asian results in the section where you look in early early history. Maybe even "Portagee" in the Tomas/Thomas Line. I am sure that there are those that have had a bad experience with DNA testing, but our Project has been wonderful. A well set up one to view to see how the results can be used is to go to http://www.familytreeDNA.com and look around to find the spot where you can type in a surname to see if there is a project - type Mills and follow their links. They have town down a lot of brick walls with their DNA testing. I just wish that some of my older family memberw were still alive so that they could take part in the testing. I will follow your Thomas DNA Project with great interest. Laura Cowan Cooper Laura Cowan Cooper Kodak, Tennessee [email protected]