Here is another article from the Facts & Genes Newsletter from Family Tree
DNA that might be of interest. This articles is about mtDNA. Y DNA is
passed only father to son. mtDNA is passed only by the mother. You can
discover information about your direct maternal line with an mtDNA test.
This would be your mother, her mother, and so forth back in time. Both men
and women inherit mtDNA. Only women pass on mtDNA.
Understanding Your Results: mtDNA =================================
Occasionally, the mtDNA Haplogroup can not be predicted from the mtDNA
result. When this occurs, on your mtDNA Results Page, a dash (-) will
appear where the Haplogroup should appear. Tests are then run, called RFLP
tests, to determine the Haplogroup. (RFLP stands for restriction fragment
length polymorphism.) When the results are back for this test, the
Haplogroup will appear on your mtDNA Results page.
The mtDNA test is available in 2 versions. These tests are called:
mtDNA
mtDNA Plus
The test called mtDNA provides a result for the region of mtDNA called HVR1.
The test called mtDNA Plus tests two regions of mtDNA, the regions called
HVR1 and HVR2.
If you want to find mtDNA matches in a genealogical time frame, select the
mtDNA Plus test.
If you have taken the mtDNA test, and want to reduce the time frame for the
common ancestor for your matches, you can upgrade your test to the mtDNA
Plus test. Upgrading to the mtDNA Plus test is also recommended for all
results who match the reference standard, called CRS, or Cambridge Reference
Standard.
To upgrade your mtDNA test, on your Personal Page, click on Order Tests.
Haplogroup H comprises about 40% of the mtDNA in Europe. If your mtDNA
Haplogroup is H, an additional test, the Haplogroup H sub-clade test, is
available, which will tell you more information. To learn about what you
can discover with the Haplogroup H sub-clade test, do the following. On
your mtDNA Results Page, click on the link "Click Here if you are Haplogroup
H", which is right below the link "Understanding Your Results". This link
will tell you what you can discover with the Haplogroup H subclade test. To
order the Haplogroup H subclade test, click on the link "click here to
order" to the right of your mtDNA results, on your mtDNA Results Page.
Anyone with an understanding of family history research can utilize DNA
testing. It isn't necessary to have a scientific background. The few
scientific terms you will encounter will be explained.
You can discover information about your direct maternal line with an mtDNA
test. This would be your mother, her mother, and so forth back in time.
Both men and women inherit mtDNA. Only women pass on mtDNA.
To order a mtDNA test, you can order as part of a Surname Project, or as an
individual. To order as an individual, click on the link below:
http://www.familytreeDNA.com/products.html
For more information, see the articles below:
Understanding Your Results: mtDNA Matches
http://www.familytreeDNA.com/facts_genes.asp?act=show&nk=3.2
Understanding Your Results: mtDNA Haplogroups
http://www.familytreeDNA.com/facts_genes.asp?act=show&nk=3.1