I'm a biochemist, but do not specialize in genetics/molecular biology. However, a conversation with my colleagues at lunch today concluded that Jo Hogle is correct. We have so many genes, and so many ancestors from the era of John & Elinor Whitney that it would be extremely difficult to associate any particular marker with descent from that couple. However, the fact that such a large group as the WRG has documented its descent from a single couple could aid genetic researchers in developing a database that could eventually be used for this kind of research. Greg Cote to: IN:dnk@mail.escapees.com cc: IN:whitney-L@rootsweb.org