I will step in here and answer since I am the web-master for the SMOTHERS DNA PROJECT and have had to deal with this issue a lot. First: Try not to be offended by the "male only" nature of many genetic genealogy studies. There are two factors involved that make most DNA studies gender specific: (1) In European societies families normaly are patrilineal and the surname gets passed only from father to son, so if you are going to study European surname family history you normally need to follow the male line......daughters change surnames upon marriage and thus their descendants are hard to track. (2) Most DNA studues analyze Y-chromosome DNA, which ONLY males have and which get passed on ONLY from father to son. Females have no Y-DNA, so they cannot pass it on to their children. The advantage of the Y-DNA analysis is that if two men have matching Y-DNA, then the probability is very high that they have a common male ancestor on an all-male genealogical line. Normally that ancestor would have the same surname as both men, so he is (hopefully) easy to track down. As you can see, Y-DNA can be very helpful in determining if two families with the same surname are related....if the men have matching Y-DNA then they are most likely related. If they do not have matching Y-DNA, then they still might be related, but NOT through an all-male line.....for example, there could have been an adoption, extrmarrital event, etc. By the way, there also is a "female only" DNA analysis that traces the all-female line, i.e, mother to daughter to maternal granddaughter etc. This type of study looks at mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Both men and women have mtDNA, but it always is inherited from the mother. That is because sperm cells have no mitochondria so they cannot pass on the man's mtDNA. While I have everyone's attention, you might want to visit our SMOTHERS DNA PROJECT WEB SITE at the following link: http://www.members.dca.net/smothers/dna/ There were many Smothers families in the Macon County area back in the late 1700's to mid-1800's (of course back then the area was Sumner and Smith Counties). Most were gone by 1860, having moved to Illinois, Arkansas, etc., and other parts of TN. At the Smothers DNA site, above, SMOTHERS GROUP-4 are all men relaed to the Smothers of Sumner/Smith/Macon Counties. Bill Smothers Delaware BarbHutch1@aol.com wrote: > >Hello, > Why aren't FEMALES able to check their Graves DNA? >I am realated to Graves and am a female. > >Thank you, Barbara Cline Hutchinson > >In a message dated 10/5/05 1:44:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, >GRAVESRONN@cs.com writes: > >We are looking for new members to join the association and to also join in >the search for all those with a GRAVES connection. > >This is old info to many of you but please indulge the email. > >For information please go to http://www.gravesfa.org and just click away on >the topics all you wish and learn more and more about the Graves family. Ken >Graves, Executive Director, GFA, has undated material as near as a couple of >weeks ago. > >We are looking for direct Graves MALE descendants to become involved in the >DNA analysis project. When you go to www.Gravesfa.org click on the DNA >analysis >project and then once there look around, read, and study what Ken has done >on >DNA research. One of the topics is the DNA Testing Sponsorship Fund. You can >view recent upgrades paid for by contributors to the fund. The list includes >the genealogy of the recent contributor or recipient. > >Donations are accepted by check or CC. You can use PayPal for CC >transactions. How to do this is in the information furnished when you click >on the testing >scholarship project. > >I realize due to Hurricane Katrina and Rita that many are maxed out on >donations but the fund is presently $96 in the red (this means Ken Graves >paid out >of his pocket) and we have many others wishing to take the DNA test but need >some assistance. > >IF you can afford the tests please follow the instructions when you click on >the DNA analysis project or contact Ken by clicking on his email address >from >the web site. > >You do not need to be a Graves to belong to the association or donate $10, >$25, $100 or whatever to the project. If you are interested in your Graves >connection this will provide scientific proof of connections. > >Thank you. > >Ron Graves GFA Volunteer > > > > > > >==== TNMACON Mailing List ==== >List your Macon County, TN. Family Names!! ><a href="http://www.tngennet.org/macon"> VISIT THE MACON COUNTY, TENNESSEE WEBPAGE!</A> > > > > >