DNA Maternal Ancestry Test

racing your maternal ancestry

Your mtDNA is your link back to all of your maternal ancestors. It is passed down unchanged from mother to child and is the only way to accurately trace your maternal ancestry.

Your mtDNA genome contains 16,569 base pairs. That is 16,569 different places that a change can occur! DNA SNP chips (used by many of our competitors) detect less than 20% of all these possible changes. We use Sanger Sequencing (the GOLD standard for DNA sequencing) to identify every single base pair. If you carry a mtDNA genetic variant, our technology will detect it, GUARANTEED.

The mtDNA genome contains three regions: two hypervariable regions (HVR1 and HVR2) and the more conserved coding region:

• Sequence just one or both of your hypervariable regions so that you can accurately compare your mtDNA to published data from hundreds of famous historical figures and ethnic groups around the world. DNA SNP chips struggle to detect all the variation in the hypervariable regions, but our Sanger Sequencing technology will identify every single change.
• Upgrade to the full mtDNA genome sequence (HVR1 + HVR2 + coding region) to confirm your ancient maternal history (mtDNA haplogroup and subclade).

Both males and females have mtDNA, so both genders can take the mtDNA test to trace their maternal ancestry. However, only females will pass their mtDNA down to the next generation.