This is a project of ALL variant spellings of Cogswell and more. We are primarily focused on Male Y DNA, preferably Y-111 and Big Y-700. You can easily join our group project with Y-37 testing, as well as Y-12, which is ordered directly though Group Admins, however we encourage testing BigY700 to be placed on the Block Tree of Mankind (now Humankind) and obtain a refined Haplogroup, which we then may possibly prove which one of the Cogswells! We have already determined the European branch of the Cogswell family who came to British America lineage, as well as recently made American history by BigY700 testing, which created the American branch of the lineage. There will be members of alternate surnames in our group, either from the European branch or the American branch or alternate patrilineal branches. We are actively researching all of the families! Come join us as we trace our lineage! We are glad you are here! Welcome to The Cogswell and Variants Project For the first time in history, genealogists are now able to determine scientifically if a male of their line is related to any other male of the same surname. Thus, DNA is a perfect companion to conventional research in order to confirm lineage. There are a wide variety of applications for Y-DNA testing. Y-DNA testing can be used to confirm the paper genealogical research for your family tree. It can determine which family trees with the same or variant surnames are related and can provide clues to help you with your genealogy research. It can help eliminate lines to which your own can not be related--always a help on a common surname. These are just a few of the applications for Y-DNA testing. THE BASIC PRINCIPLE BEHIND Y-DNA TESTING--A Kindergarten Level Explanation Only males have a Y-chromosome. This Y-chromosome is known to be transmitted from father to son virtually unchanged at conception. Testing the Y-chromosome provides information about the direct male line (the surname line), meaning the father to his father to his grandfather and so on. Specific locations tested on the Y-chromosome are called "DYS markers." Occasionally a mutation occurs at one of the markers on the Y-chromosome at a conception. A mutation is simply a small change in the DNA sequence--sometimes called a copying error. They are natural occurrences and take place at random though infrequent intervals. Overall, they are estimated to occur once every 500 years per marker. Thus, mutations can be valuable in identifying branches of a family tree. Each marker has a name assigned to it by the scientific community, such as DYS #123, DYS #456 or HATA H4, etc. The scientists classify these markers as Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) because at each of these marker locations a short DNA code repeats itself. The value reported for a marker is the number of times the code repeats at that location and is called the "allele value." As an example, the number of repeats that one male might have on DYS #123 could be 12 repeats. Another male might have 15 repeats on that same DYS #123. The number of markers (DYS numbers) tested depends on the test ordered--12 markers, 25 markers, 37 markers, 67 markers, 111 markers or 700 markers. The result will be a string of values at each DYS marker tested that in combination produces what is called a haplotype or DNA signature for the person testing. We would then be able to tell that two males of the same surname with matching DNA "haplotypes" or DNA signatures likely share a common male ancestor at some point in the past. The closer the matches, the more recent in time the common ancestor is predicted to be. Too many mismatches and we know those two males are not apt to share a common ancestor. The haplotype of STR values can usually predict the "haplogroup" to which a person belongs which points to deep ethnic origins. Two people who do NOT share the same basic haplogroup will NEVER be related through Patrilineal lines. A predicted haplogroup can be confirmed by a different type of test to determine the presence or absence of specific Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms or SNPs. WHAT IS A SURNAME PROJECT? A surname project is a project which is established to test and compare those with a common surname or variants of that surname. The project has a leader or leaders known as the Group Administrator(s). This person(s) collects the lineage outlines of the members so we know what family lines are being documented, assists members with understanding their results, typically interprets the results for the group, and may publish for the group’s benefit this information on a website either through Family Tree DNA's website or on another off-line website they maintain. The Cogswell DNA Project does NOT maintain a website outside of Family Tree DNA Company. Administrators are volunteers and get no monetary compensation for their role so they can give unbiased recommendations on which test would best benefit the person desiring to be part of the project, and to be of utmost service to our Family members in respect, unconditional love and kindness. Because the Y-chromosome is ONLY found in men, in order to take the Y-DNA test one MUST be a male of the surname Cogswell and Variants or be a Y12, Y25, Y37, Y67, Y111 or Big Y700 DNA match with one of our members to be part of this project. For females who are interested in the Y-DNA result for their surname or family tree, a close MALE Cogswell and Variant spelling relative would need to provide the dna sample. Although there is a Family Finder test that a female who has Cogswell and Variant spelling line may take, it cannot be directly compared to the Y-DNA test results of male Cogswell and Variant spellings for the surname project purposes. Anyone doing a FamilyFinder autosomal test who are Cogswell may join the project, and be viewers. We are able to work on those tests behind the scenes and research for common matches. Additionally, female mtDNA tests which test for the person's direct maternal line can be added, however are not actively being researched by the Group Project at this time (March 2023). If you have interest in the project, yet would prefer to non-actively participate, financial donations are most welcome, to continue our historic research! There is a Donate Here button on the left side of the cover page. We appreciate any and all donations, of any amount! Thank you!