The WFS are beginning to look at setting up a DNA Surname project. This would involve testing males with the surname Willingale, with a view to double checking our research work already carried out by conventional genealogical methods and confirming our assertion that all Willingales are related.

More specifically to confirm that:

• Everyone in the main tree (the William, John and Thomas branches) are in fact related
• That the unconnected Charles and Samuel branches do link into the main tree

The DNA test costs US Dollars 149.00 (roughly GBP 93.00), and involve taking a DNA test by means of a (totally painless) cheek swab. 3 swabs and full instructions are sent out once you have enrolled in the program. A photo of the testing kit you will be sent can be found here, the swabs can be seen at the bottom of the photo.

The WFS have recently offered free tests to selected members of the unconnected tree, and we are awaiting results back from our testing provider. This will hopefully allow us to to prove our assertion all Willingales are in fact related.

The test would use 'junk' DNA, this would be sufficient to confirm a genealogical relationship, but would be insufficient to confirm such things as paternity, susceptibility to illness, the tests would not be able to uniquely identify an individual and be of considerably lower resolution than police forensic DNA tests.

The results of the first people to be tested can be found here.

If you would like to participate in the the project, or require more details, please contact Steven or you can join up by completing this form.

Some background info on DNA testing can be found at

http://blairdna.com/dna101.html

http://www.dnaheritage.com/tutorial1.asp