mtDNA testing for genetic genealogy
Considering mtDNA testing for genetic genealogy? Here’s our next post in our tour through the use of DNA testing for genealogy. This time the focus is on matrilineal researches using mitochondrial DNA aka M-DNA aka mtDNA. As we mentioned before, the mitochondria is a so-called “organelle” that resides within the our cells, and those of other animals. It is the engine that provides us all with our cells’ metabolic energy. There is a theory that these mitochondria were once independent creatures, but that somewhere in the mists of time, a symbiotic relationship...
Read MoreY-DNA testing for genetic genealogy
Considering Y-DNA testing for genetic genealogy? In my last post, I introduced the topic of DNA testing for genetic genealogy. In this post, I’m going to delve further into Y-DNA testing. First, I should point out that since the Y-chromosome is what will express the “maleness” of a man, that DNA in it will encode for these masculine attributes. However, it is not these parts of the DNA that are of interest in genetic testing. Instead, the focus is on what’s called noncoding or “junk” DNA. In the human genome, as much as 98% of DNA does not actually encode...
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