Mitochondrial DNA Testing

Mitochondrial DNA Testing was not even a thought until 1963 when it was discovered to have it's own separate DNA. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is passed down maternally. Your mother passes mitochondria to both her sons and daughters, though the sons do not pass it to their children. Mitochondrial DNA gets passed from generation to generation maternally, and the mtDNA does not change with slight exceptions.

Tracing your ancestry has never had more solid proof then DNA testing, it is virtually almost completely accurate. A book called "The Seven Daughters of Eve" by Brian Sykes explains that we are all related to one common ancestor he named Mitochondrial Eve. Throughout time these "7 daughters of Eve" migrated into Europe (whom are all connected to Mitochondrial Eve through there DNA) and many of us are descended from them. There are around 30 other "daughters in the world, these seven daughters were spread throughout Europe.

Researchers created a grouping system called Haplogroups. These groups were made to show where these certain groups of DNA migrated. Haplogroup H is the most common in Europe, this "daughter is given the name "Helena". About half of all Europeans are descended from her. This Haplogroup originated in Southwest Asia Middle East about 25,000 to 30,000 years ago.

New technology has just surfaced for mtDNA, specifically Haplogroup H. DNA offers a full sequence Mitochondrial DNA analysis. This is for Haplogroup H only, you can go there to see if your qualified. The site also offers any other genealogy test available today including a 67 marker test for Y chromosome ,the only test of it's kind.

I took a Mitochondrial DNA Test 6 months ago. A (High Variable Resolution) HVR1 and an HVR2 analysis and an add in the largest DNA database to discover my ancestry. My migration as everyone else, started near Kenya, Africa 140,000-170,000 years ago. From there, they traveled north and settled in south Europe. South Europe is where a the migration began to split. Some went east eventually populating China, Japan, Australia, etc. while others, including my family, went more north into Europe until they reached the area of Ireland, UK, Scotland and even as far as Germany. As of the last 500 years, my legacy has been populating Northern Ireland (Ulster County).

I have made 3 matches with other people who have taken their DNA. With my already extensive family tree, I was able to help all 3 (relatives) find their connection to my tree. In essence, my family tree grew leaps and bounds because of DNA technology and they found family answers they were not aware of. This was worth it alone, the relationships you make throughout your family history adventure!

For more info check out Mitochondrial DNA Testing

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Gary Jamieson - EzineArticles Expert Author