If you are among the first persons to take a Y-DNA test for your surname or your specific line for the Knowles surname, you will often not have any matches.  Your genealogical research may have indicated that you are a descendant of a specific ancestor who's Y-DNA profile has been established, but yours doesn't match.  You might be inclined to say, "It can't be my research that's in error.  I got it all off the Internet.  It must be an error by the lab" or "It can't be my research, the scientists must have the wrong mutation rate", or "My uncle gave me the family tree, there must be an error by the lab"

It is disappointing to find out that you aren't a descendant of a specific progenitor, or that you failed to match at least one other Knowles DNA Project participant.  In the early stages of a Surname Project, all the participants could be unrelated.  Our desire to establish a connection can also lead to taking a 9 for 12 or a 10 for 12 match and calling the persons related, when in fact they are not.

Genetic genealogy is not a substitute for traditional genealogical research.  It is a tool to be used in conjunction with genealogy research.  When DNA testing does not confirm the research, the easiest course of action is to assume the problem is with the lab or the mutation rates.  As painful as it may be to question our research, the most likely problem is our genealogy research. 

When the lab results do not match expectations based on our research, the first step should be to test other participants in that line or family tree to validate the research, and perhaps to determine if there was an adoption or extra marital event.  Also, it is often helpful for a third party to review the research.  A fresh perspective may identify erroneous conclusions or weak evidence.  Do the connections meet a genealogical standard of proof, or are they based on many conclusions which are not supported sufficiently by the evidence?

There are many Surname Projects with consistent 25/25 or 24/25 matches.  The difference between these projects, and other projects where 9/12 or 21/25 matches are used to 'confirm' the research, is clearly not the lab or mutation rates that is the problem.  The quality control and the checks and balances used by the lab, assure the accuracy of the tests.  In all probability, the 'problem' will be with the research.  The last thing any participant wants to hear is that there is a problem with their genealogical research.  For those that still believe that the mutation rates are wrong from the lab, the best thing to do is go up the family tree (if possible), and test a descendent from each branch to determine if their theory is correct by identifying the origin of each mutation.

This may be the only option to convince those of you who don't consider that there is a problem with your research.  When you see the test results from other members of your known family tree, and the mutation origins aren't appearing, you may be more receptive to taking another look at the research for your family tree.

When the DNA test results do not support the research, the most likely problem is the research.  It's the job of the Surname Project Manager (aka Group Administrator) to help you address the potential discrepancy between  your research and the Y-DNA test results.  

When you have concerns that the Y-DNA test results don't match your genealogical research, be sure and express your concerns to the Knowles Surname DNA Project Manager.