ONE hundred men all called Robson donated their DNA in the name of research.
The clan was led by 90-year-old Lance Robson, of Hartburn, near Morpeth.
They gave their genetic matter for a study at Newcastle's Centre for Life on Saturday in order to make a new exhibit called 'The Robson Encyclopaedia'.
The work will exami
ne genetic inheritance and look at whether Robsons of today can be linked back to the original Border Reiver clan of the Robsons of Tynedale.
The Border Reivers date back to the 1600s when they ruled the Anglo-Scottish border.
The clan had a reputation for trouble and the Reivers were a lawless community of tribes continually at war with each other.
Lance Robson can trace his family history back 700 years and believes the Robsons are the largest Border Reiver family still in the area.
He said: "It will be very interesting to find out whether all Robsons are linked genetically but I already think we are."
More than 100 male volunteer Robsons gave a DNA sample, using a simple mouth swab, which will then be examined for any similarities occurring in the Y-chromosome.
Twelve markers, stretches of DNA from different parts of the chromosome where variations from person to person are known to occur, will be compared to see how many volunteers, if any, share the same variations.
Examining these variations in genetic coding is a reliable way of identifying whether people share a common ancestry — if one person shares the same variations as another then they have inherited these variations from the same ancestor.
Dr Alix Groom, who is based at the Institute of Human Genetics at the Centre for Life, will be leading the genetic analysis work.
She said: "We were really impressed with the number of volunteers who took part.
"The interest in the project has been phenomenal, proving that genetics and family history are hugely popular topics."
For further information about the Robson Encyclopaedia, or if anyone wanted to take part but was unable to attend on Saturday, call Dr Alix Groom on 0191 241 8837.
The results of the DNA testing will be announced in the New Year and those taking part will be invited to see the exhibition at its official opening in March 2007.
The research will reveal a group result and no individual results will be given.
