A mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) test looks at your female-inherited mitochondrial DNA. Historic records are often inadequate for women’s history. Maternal DNA testing offers you the opportunity to at least partially overcome that barrier, and by testing your mtDNA, you will learn about your maternal heritage in both recent and ancient times.

FamilyTreeDNA offers the mtFull Sequence (mtDNA Full Genomic Sequence) test. This test is the preferred test for understanding the genealogy, historic, and ancient ancestry of your direct maternal line. By testing the full mitochondrial genome, you will be placed in one of the hundreds of mtDNA haplogroup subclades according to current published peer-reviewed literature. Each subclade has a unique migration history that traces from ancient times through more recent historic events.

For genealogical research, you are assured of ruling out lineage mismatches for paper trail comparisons. You will also achieve the highest level of confidence possible that your mtDNA full sequence matches are related to you within the genealogical time frame.

The mtFull Sequence test:

  • Sequences nucleotides 00001 to 00547 (HVR2).
  • Sequences nucleotides 00575 to 16000 (coding region).
  • Sequences nucleotides 16001 to 16569 (HVR1).
  • Provides mtDNA Haplogroup and Sublcade.
  • Allows you to confidently rule out possible genealogical connections and confirm relationships.
  • Provides both ancient and historic migration paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has two major parts, the control region and the coding region.

The control region is often called the hypervariable region (HVR). Hypervariable means fast changing. In mitochondrial DNA, the control region is the fast-changing part. The control region may be further divided into two hypervariable regions, HVR1 and HVR2.

  • HVR1 runs from nucleotide 16001 to nucleotide 16569.
  • HVR2 runs from nucleotide 00001 to nucleotide 00574.

The coding region (CR) is the part of your mtDNA genome that contains genes. Because it does contain some genes, the coding region is believed to be slower mutating than the control region. Often, the mutations that are found in the coding region are used to define haplogroups.

  • The coding region runs from nucleotide 00575 to nucleotide 16000.

The mtFull Sequence test will not be able to identify specific countries that your maternal ancestors came from. mtDNA mutates slowly which allows you to find out ancient information (such as your haplogroup), and will not help you learn about your more recent (within the past 200-500 years) origins. However, you can use mtDNA results with your personal genealogy research to contact your matches to find out more about where your common ancestors may be from.mtDNA testing will not be able to identify specific countries that your maternal ancestors came from. mtDNA mutates slowly which allows you to find out ancient information (such as your haplogroup), and will not help you learn about your more recent (within the past 200-500 years) origins. However, you can use mtDNA results with your personal genealogy research to contact your matches to find out more about where your common ancestors may be from.