When traditional methods of research finally hit that "brick wall," Y-chromosome DNA testing may help in identifying new branches of your family tree. The HILL Surname DNA Project, one of over 4691 surname projects in the U. S., was created to take advantage of this new scientific approach, in an attempt to determine which HILL family groups are related and have common ancestors.

Scientists have discovered that the DNA in the y-chromosome, found only in males, is passed from father to son, virtually unchanged, except for rare (and random) mutations. By testing these chromosome segments, it is possible to determine if two or more living males are related, and approximately when they had a common ancestor.

FamilyTreeDNA, in conjunction with the University of Arizona, has been selected as the vendor for this project. It is recommended that you view their website at: www.FamilyTreeDNA.com and become familiar with their methods of research.