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From:
Subject: [BROWN-LEONARD] Brown DNA Update
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:48:12 EDT

Hello Brown Descendants and Researchers!


The Brown/Browne/Braun DNA Study has two primary aims:

(1) to encourage the use of DNA analysis for tracing the genealogies of
various Brown family lines, including families with variant spellings like
Browne, Broun, Browning and Braun; and

(2) to lend one another technical support in the application of DNA to
genealogical research.

The project is a volunteer activity, coordinated by unpaid amateur
genealogists. Most testing is contracted thru a commercial firm, Family Tree DNA of
Houston TX, with the majority of lab work done at the University of Arizona.
But we happily accept DNA results from other companies and other labs.

Direct test participation is limited to males, since females don't carry any
sort of DNA that can "track" a surname. On the other hand, about half of our
test participants have been recruited and paid for by their female relatives.


I'm glad to report that the project now has results for 410 members, while
initial lab work for another four members is currently ongoing. So as the
project approaches its sixth anniversary, our tested membership has now reached a
grand total of 414!

Among the DNA results so far reported, 259 participants have what appear to
be "genealogically significant" matches with other members, falling into some
74 relationship groups, while another 151 members are still waiting for
their first matches. These numbers translate to a match rate of about 63% -- a
healthy gain from the rate of 50% that we achieved last year.

These statistics also mean that we've so far identified 225 separate,
biologically distinct Brown family lines. Although we've always known that the
Brown surname had diverse origins, this level of diversity is much greater than
many of us would have expected -- all the more so since our project has thus
far tested something less than 0.02 per cent of the Brown-surnamed men in the
English-speaking world!

What's more, a number of our members have achieved genuine breakthroughs in
their genealogical quests. In my own case, for example, DNA helped bring down
a genealogical "brick wall" that had blocked research on my Brown line for
almost 40 years.


Results for our currently "matched" participants appear on this page:

http://brownsociety.org/browndna/groupresults.html


while those who don't yet have a match are listed here:

http://www.brownsociety.org/browndna/unique.html


Then for those members who have supplied the project with genealogical
information, the earliest known Brown ancestors are listed by earliest known
locations at this page:

http://brownsociety.org/browndna/earliestancestorsgeographic.html


(You'll note on these pages that almost all of our participants have allowed
us to list their names alongside their DNA results. But we'll also be glad
to grant anonymity to any member who so requests.)


If you or a member of your Brown family has already had a DNA test, we
sincerely urge you to join us. It won't cost a thing, and it may help advance the
research on your own Brown ancestry. Just remember that there's strength in
numbers!

Or if you haven't yet tested but are interested in doing so, please contact
me off-list for info on costs and procedures.


Best regards,

Jim Brown (James Armistead Brown, Jr.)
Volunteer Administrator
Brown/Browne/Braun DNA Study





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