The last few years have seen an explosion in the use of DNA studies in family history. I have previously referred (here) to why Al Howes of the US Howes Family Association and I decided to start a DNA study two years ago. The DNA study site can be found here. As of the time of writing, it has twenty-two participants.

Just a reminder: the site is a paternal DNA reference site dealing with male-only descendents of anyone called HOWES, HOWE, HOW, HOWSE, HOWS and so on. For reasons outlined on another page, I have now decided to admit anyone called ATTOE, ATTHOWE and variants thereof into the Howes DNA study. I stress, though, that there is a separate "One-Name Study" (here) for these names and I've no wish to trespass on territory claimed by someone else! It's merely that there's a good chance that some Attoes will have similar DNA to some Howeses. Nothing is lost by asking people if they want to join in. Situation is very similar to people called HOWE: very welcome in the DNA study, but there aren't enough hours in the day to collect and analyze all of their family histories too!

Now that HowesFamilies.com has grown materially with almost 100 registrants, I felt it was time to ask Ancestry.com whether they could do anything more to help with our research. They replied in the affirmative, for which I am very grateful. They promised to offer a 30% discount to anyone using the Howes family discount code. More, the discount code will apply to both Paternal and Maternal DNA tests.

I will post some links below to interesting articles where one can learn more about DNA testing. But for the sake of simplicity, here is a very quick summary.

Paternal DNA tests, also called y-DNA

A paternal DNA test looks at male-only genetic matter passed from father to son. Assuming no unfaithfulness from our female partners and no secret adoptions, if your name is one of those listed above, you have DNA from a male HOWES (or similarly named) ancestor. All DNA changes slowly over time and our DNA is frequently not exactly the same as that of our parent. If we test enough people we will find DNA matches that indicate close family links between surname groups that will enable us to connect families that we had not known previously were connected. Ladies, we'd love to have you join in, but you can't! Nothing personal. You just don't have any male DNA matter in your bodies. You'll need to find a male Howes brother/father/uncle/similar to participate for you.

Maternal DNA tests, also called mtDNA

Maternal DNA matter is conceptually similar, but is passed from mother to child, female and male. So anyone's mtDNA comes from their mother, and her mother, and so on. Find someone whose mtDNA matches yours and you should be able to prove a common female ancestor up the female line.

Most important: what DNA tests can't do

If you know you have a common ancestor with another person, you cannot assume your DNA will match theirs, or even be similar. it will only be a (close) match if your paternal line matches with the other person's at some point, or if your maternal line matches with theirs. Climb back metaphorically up your family tree ten generations! Of your 1024 ancestors that far back, DNA testing can only help you directly with two: your father's father's etc father and your mother's mother's etc mother. To use it with any other of your ancestors, you would have to find a direct male or female descendent of that person, or their mother or father, depending upon what sex they were.

I hope this has helped a little and I haven't confused anyone!

Still want to take a DNA test and get the discount?

Here's what you do: Go to Ancestry.com's DNA test ordering page and work your way through the ordering process. There are several clicks to make because they don't want anyone to order an inappropriate test. Make sure you order the 46-factor test, whether male or female because having the extra detail will enable you to be more accurate in terms of how closely you might be related to another person. At some point you will see a draft invoice, including a box called Coupon Code. Type in HOWESDNA and hit "apply". You'll see the amount of the invoice drop by close to 30%. If you're a US resident, the price is now $115 and change. if you're a non-US resident you get a bonus, the price should be something like $110 and change. Although shipping costs more, you don't have to pay US taxes!

mtDNA tests similarly cost $138+ for US residents and $131+ for non-residents

About 3 weeks after you return your test, you should get an email from Ancestry with a link to your test results. If you've tested male DNA, please then go to the HOWES DNA site linked above and check out your DNA against others with the same name. I sure would like to know if you get a match! Second: go to www.ysearch.org and enter your data there too. Ysearch is a free site and you get to compare your DNA against those who used FamilyTreeDNA and other services. If you tested female DNA, I don't think you need to register with the Howes DNA site because the DNA being compared there is just that of Howes+ males. The relevant website for comparing DNA samples outside of Ancestry.com is www.mitosearch.org.

One last thing: I hate FAQs but there is a question that I am sure is occurring to some people: Do I have to be a Howes to get the benefit of this discount? The answer is NO. So tell your friends!

Some useful DNA testing reference sites

Howes/Howse/Howe DNA website	here
y-Search	here
mtDNA comparison site	here
DNA-forums - "a Genetic Genealogy community" (log in req'd)	here
GENUKI article on DNA testing for genealogy	here
BBC" Who do you think you are?" article	here
DNA Heritage -more expensive, but nice graphics and explanation	here

Paul Howes, April 2009