Heffernan/Heffron DNA Project
I am the administrator of the new Heffernan/Heffron DNA Project - http://heffron.gendna.nethttp://heffron.gendna.net - and would like to invite HEFFERNANs and HEFFRONs from the U.S., Ireland, U.K., Canada, Australia, and around the world to participate in the project.Although officially named the Heffernan DNA Project, it encompasses all known variations of the HEFFERNAN surname including HEFFRON, HEFFERMAN, HEFFERNON, HEFFERON, HEFFERAN, HEFFREN, HEFFERN, O'HEFFERNAN, O'HEFFRON, etc.The new field of genetic genealogy offers genealogists a new tool for researching their family history through the use of the new science of DNA testing.Although the testing itself is open only to Heffernan/Heffron males, females and non-Heffernan/Heffron males can participate by seeking out Heffernan/Heffron males in their immediate or extended family to get tested.
Here a few of the reasons and benefits of using DNA testing to enhance and augment your Heffernan/Heffron genealogical research:
1. Determine if two or more people share a common paternal line Heffernan/Heffron ancestor in the recent past.
2. Find previously unknown Heffernan/Heffrons (and variants) related to you.
3. Validate (or not) your traditional Heffernan/Heffron research.
4. Prove or disprove a theory in your Heffernan/Heffron research.
5. Bridge gaps due to lost or destroyed records.
6. Provide direction for future Heffernan/Heffron research and avoid dead ends.
7. Find out more about your deeper ancestry and geographic origins.
8. Preserve Heffernan/Heffron DNA for future testing.
9. Contribute to the Heffernan/Heffron DNA knowledge base for researchers of the present and future.
DNA testing does NOT involve having blood drawn or a trip to a medical lab.A test kit is mailed to you which includes one or two cheek swabs or brushes used for swabbing the inside of your mouth.After completing the kit's instructions, you simply mail the kit back to the testing company.
DNA testing does NOT reveal anything about your active genes or any possible medical conditions or any physical characteristics.The testing takes place in the non-coding "junk" portion of a male's Y-chromosome DNA which has no known function.
Privacy and confidentiality are respected for members of the project.A project member's name and contact info are not revealed unless explicitly requested to do so by the member.Information about a member's Heffernan/Heffron ancestors who are still living or born after 1900 is not revealed unless requested.
The Heffernan DNA Project is a non-commercial non-profit undertaking and all that I or the project stand to gain is a greater knowledge of Heffernan/Heffron family history.
The project already has test results from the Hugh Heffernan lineage of Co. Antrim, IRE and Crawford Co., PA and is seeking more testees from this lineage and the numerous other Heffernan/Heffron lineages from the U.S., Ireland, U.K., Canada, Australia, and around the world.I would like to encourage all Heffernan/Heffrons and Heffernan/Heffron researchers to participate in this project and take advantage of the new tools of genetic genealogy and DNA testing to further explore their Heffernan/Heffron family history.Please visit the Heffernan DNA Project web site to find out more about genetic genealogy and the project and how to participate:
http://heffron.gendna.nethttp://heffron.gendna.net
Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Thank you,
Mike