The Project Basics 

While both the mother and the father of a child pass down 50% of the genes each, it is the fathers who pass down the Y Chromosome and it is only the Y Chromosome that passes from one generation to the next (in males) unchanged. For that reason, only males can take part in the Surname Project. But, women play a huge role too (since I'm female, I can attest to that). For example, it is not uncommon that it is the women in a family who initiate the DNA study of the males in their line.  For females who are interested in the Y-DNA result for their surname or family tree, a close male relative with that surname would need to provide the sample (but you can sign up for the testing yourself and make a submission on behalf of a male relative of the family line you are researching).

Choosing a DNA Test Type

Everyone is welcomed - whether your last name is Fulbright, Fullbright, Smith, or Jones! The goal of this project, of course, is to compare the DNA of males in the Fulbright line, but everyone in the family line can play a big role in obtaining those samples, analyzing the results, and working to complete an accurate Fulbright-Fullbright family tree.

The first step is to get a DNA sample tested - luckily, that is very easy to do! First, you order a DNA kit from Family Tree DNA. Once it arrives, you just follow the simple directions in the package and mail it back. Once it's tested for the DNA (a few weeks usually), Family Tree DNA returns the results to you.  You can use those results to compare to other individuals who have had their DNA tested (at Family Tree DNA and other genealogy / DNA sites). Family Tree DNA is backed by the Molecular Lab for Science and Evolution at the University of Arizona, one of the 5 leading Y-chromosome universities in the world.  They are the only Genetic Genealogy company supported by one of these major Y-chromosome labs.

An Important Note About Your Privacy: Family Tree DNA provides the option to participate in a group project in order to try to learn more by working with others who may share similar ancestry. If you choose to participate in a project the group administrator will be able to view your results and contact information so that he or she may best help members of the project learn about their ancestry. So that members can share information more easily a public website displaying member results is often created. At this project site, results will be listed by kit number and/or oldest known ancestor. It does not list personally identifying information. You may join or leave projects at any time after your results are posted at no charge.

Your unique test kit number will accompany your collection tube to the testing lab. The computer-generated number and your surname is the only information about you that the testing facility will see. Once your test has been completed the results of the Y-DNA (or mtDNA test, when women are tested or men are tested for maternal genes) will be entered in a secure database. A comparison between your specific genetic results and those of others in the database will then be performed. If a genetic match is found between you and another person in the database and you have each signed the release form you will be informed via email. If a genetic match is found between you and another individual who enters the DNA database at some time in the future, both will be given the information that a potential match is in the database provided that BOTH of you have signed the release form. Only if both parties agree will contact information concerning the separate parties be made available to the other party. In this way, all persons in the database will have the right to decide if they want to contact their genetic match(es). Privacy and confidentiality will be strictly maintained.