Hi Cathy, Please check out the following site, which I think has the best comparison of available DNA testing houses I've seen, not that I am an expert on that. The cost figures will be different if you join one of the Surname or Geographical Region DNA projects. If you click on the various sites you can compare what is offered. On the Genealogy DNA Rootsweb list there have been several posts from people who have compared their DNA results from different companies and they report they received matching results from each. Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) seems to be more popular, but you should choose based on which you think provides the best deal for you. One example is that FTDNA offers several deals for four basic tests, a 12 marker test, a 25 marker test and a 37 marker test and the mtDNA test. A 12 marker test only tells you your general deep ancestry and who you are not related to, so it is not really that useful except it allows you to pay for the testing slowly. Eventually, you need the most markers tested that you can get since that provides the best definition for matches and near matches. Heritage DNA offers the same basic deals, but their upper end is 41 markers for $199 (vs $239 for 37 markers at FTDNA) and they allow you to pay off your test 1 marker at a time after the first 12. Great for someone with limited financing. Explore this site and select which way to go for yourself. Note that the 12, 25 and 37 marker tests are all for Y-DNA, which is male only, so you would have to get the sample from a male of the line you wish to test. mtDNA can be tested from men or women, but only identifies deep ancestry, not relatives within the last few generations, though it will tell you if you are not related to someone, which is sometimes as useful as a match. Since a surname match is important, but not exclusive, for a Y-DNA test, you may find joining a Surname Group best. There is a link to other companies as well and to a great deal of information on DNA testing. Check out this site: > http://worldfamilies.net/hints.htm I had my test conducted by FTDNA, primarily because I joined the Elliott family and Border Reiver group which is associated with FTDNA. Hope you join us in this great activity and find it as rewarding as I and many of the people who I correspond with have. John Carr On Sep 25, 2004, at 8:46 PM, CathyNagy@aol.com wrote: > > John, >   > would you know what companies doing DNA testing for the genealogy > community are good?  It seems a lot have "popped" up recently. >   > Thank you. >   > Cathy in San Diego