This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: bobmclaren1 Surnames: Wright, MacLaren Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wright/5311.1.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Carol, Unfortunately, Y-DNA tests cannot show such a precise measure such as they show a match within 11 generations. What is really being said is that there is a certain probability that a common ancestor exists within 11 generations. In most cases where I see this statement, the probability is much less than 99%. So, the statement does not truly cover all the probabilities. Additonally, it depends upon how many markers were tested. These statements are next to useless for tests of 12 and 25 markers. It is far better to have a 67-marker test. I take it that your brother's surname is Wright. If this is the case, I will be glad to take a look and see what the matching really is and give my advice. To do this, have your brother join the Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project (Wright can be a Clan surname). To join, go to his personal page at Family Tree DNA. At the top left on this page is a join projects link. Click on this link and you will go to a page that lists projects. One of these will be MacLaren. Click on MacLaren and you will go to a page that describes the Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project. At the bottom of this page is a join button. Click on this and you have joined. If he joins, and I hope he does, can you send me a copy of his Wright genealogy? If you have it in a computer genealogy program, a GEDCOM would be great. If not, any format will work. DNA does not stand alone, genealogies have to be used in any analysis. If you have any questions, please contact me directly at bobmclaren@earthlink.net. Yours aye, Bob McLaren Genealogist, Clan MacLaren Society (based in Scotland) Chairman, Genealogy Committee, Clan MacLaren Society of North America Administrator, Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project (Worldwide) p.s. This offer is open to any Wrights who have tested and are not yet a member of the MacLaren Surname DNA Project. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.