There now are three main types of genome testing for genealogical purposes. These are Y-Chromosome testing of the all-male line - both standard STR markers and SNP testing via Big Y and selected SNPs - , mtDNA testing of the all-female line and autosomal chromosome testing (Family Finder), which covers all ones ancestors but is quite hit-or-miss above third cousins. We are getting many requests to join from those who have only done the Family Finder type of testing. There is very little benefit resulting from joining the Fox Project if this is all you have done and we tend to discourage it. When making a request to join and you already have test results please indicate what these tests are and why you feel they demonstrate a Fox connection. This project emphasizes Y-Chromosome testing of males surnamed Fox, preferably at 37, 67 or 111 STR markers, from known Fox lines. The optimum use of Y-DNA testing is to check out a questionable paper trail. Flying blind occasionally does work and enough Fox family groups have been identified that the chance of making a connection are fairly good. DNA testing has limitations. Predictions may be made of generations back to a common ancestor but they are given as a wide probable range. It is much easier to disprove a paper trail than to confirm one and, for this reason, at least the 37 marker Y-DNA test is recommended. We require male Fox line pedigrees back to the most distant known ancestor and see that all results for which this information is available are put into the Ysearch database. Identities are hidden for persons born after 1905 and the most distant ancestor and kit number are used for identification in public documents but the administrators feel free to disclose results within the project. Females may order a test kit for Fox males who agree to submit a cheek scrape sample. MtDNA testing and the Family Finder application are also allowed for project members, including females. Owing to the many possible ancestral connections involved, however, the administrators do not get into the details of interpretation. This is up to the person tested and it is recommended that your profile page include a gedcom file or other family tree connections (such as MyHeritage) to assist in following up matching results. Adoptees who suspect Fox connections and persons with surnames other than Fox whose Y-DNA results match closely with project members are encouraged to join. National Geographic/IBM Genographic Project transfers are encouraged to join if they supply family tree information. You must first transfer your results to FTDNA and then click on the Join button on your FTDNA personal webpage and select the Fox Project. The main objective is genealogical, namely to identify family relationships. While not its main objective the Fox Project is in the forefront of cluster analysis and Big Y testing for deep ancestry, particularly in Haplogroup R1b, and we encourage SNP testing for deep ancestry if the individual has such interests. Since the migration of the website to MyGroups it is now possible for members to post comments and for the administrators to search for a daily sales price reduction offer. The administrators will not monitor the posts on a regular basis and do not expect to see much activity. They will not post a daily sales offer but will respond to a request from a project member if they want to see one posted. We also do not encourage use of the project activities page and would prefer to have members direct their comments to the project administrators. The World Families link is for members of the Vanfossen Group. Administrators: Joe Fox jmfoxiii@comcast.net Leigh Fox Wilson leighwilson4@gmail.com