Doris,

In addition to the "male Y chromosome test" that is "representative" of a 
male (only) DNA donor, his father, his father's father, his father's 
father's father, etc., there is also a "female test" (the mtDNA test) that 
is "representative" of a male or a female donor, his/her mother, his/her 
mother's mother, his/her mother's mother's mother, etc. (note: each of those 
women will typically have had a different "birth last name" as well as a 
different "married last name," so using this test presents an extra 
"research challenge" for that reason).  There is now a third test that 
anyone (male or female) can take, and it will show DNA "matches" to any 
"biological cousins" who also took that test....male or female and 
irrespective of their surnames....who share a common ancestor within about 4 
or so "generations back" (this test apparently gets a little unreliable back 
beyond 4 generations or so).  Using this test also presents an extra 
"research challenge," since you will probably get matches to some surnames 
that you never knew had any connection to your family (the same could also 
be true, of course, with the above mtDNA test).  As this third test becomes 
more popular, the "odds" of finding many "matches" will continue to 
increase.  Family Tree DNA calls this last/third test the "Family Finder" 
test.  I used Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) for my Y chromosome test.  That is the 
same company that National Geographic uses for DNA testing, and I can highly 
recommend them.

Bill D. 

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