Thank you so much. There are so many companies out there, it is very confusing. Now, FTDNA is Family Tree DNA? I had herad there were many levels of markers on up to over a hundred and that Native American was a whole different test. Thank you for your help. Donna > To: tnlincol-l@rootsweb.com > Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 08:51:59 -0400 > From: n5bry@aol.com > Subject: Re: [TNLINCOL] DNA testing > > For those who are considering surname DNA testing. > > I would suggest that you use FTDNA for your testing.? There are quite a few testing companies but they don't test on the same markers.? FTDNA has the largest data base to check against. > > Testing with another company may cause you to miss a match or seem to be so mis-matched that you discard a true connection. > > Case in point.? My cousin tested for our Taylor surname project.? We were contacted by a person whose cousin tested with another company.? Based on court house records she was certain we were closely related but the marker comparison was so far off, there were serious doubts.? I suggested her cousin retest with FTDNA and he matched very well with only 1 marker off as opposed to he original 7 markers off, confirming the close relationship even though our common ancestor was about 250 years back. > > We have been contacted by some who tested with other companies who were certain we were a match.? When comparing apples with apples, they would never match us.? Other companies don't check the same markers, making it very difficult to confirm a lineage. > > Test with FTDNA.? You will have lots of interesting DNA freebie information included plus an opportunity to convert your markers to Y-search where people from other testing companies can also post their markers for comparisons and? you may find an unknown connection there. > > FTDNA usually sponsors really good sale prices on the testing around Christmas.? Also, at least for a start, testing to 37 markers is sufficient to get you the information you need.? We have upgraded several of our different surname donors and testing to 67 markers did not improve our matches. > > My best advice - test to 37 markers with FTDNA.? That will give you the most important information. > > Good luck. > > Nita > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TNLINCOL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/

Donna, The four basic tests are 12, 25, 37 and 67 markers. In addition to that there are a bunch of other tests you can do, but whether you should do them depends on what happens with your initial results. If you want, do the 67 or the 37 marker test, then write to me and I will give you an analysis of your results, and point you to where you can go for more information. Marleen