Mother's DNA

     Having tested my mom, her paternal aunt and a female paternal cousin, I have mtDNA results for three different lines in my family tree. Remember that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is passed down from mothers to their children, both male and female. The female children then in turn pass it down to their children. Thus, everyone has mtDNA, regardless of gender.

     The only "major" maternal line I'm missing is my paternal grandmother's. Since I have my dad's DNA "on file" at ftDNA, I could find it out if I wanted to spend the money.

Evans - J1c2c

Britt - ?

Witt - H3

Albea - U5a1b1

     I'm interested in all aspects of DNA, but really haven't done much with my mtDNA results. MtDNA can be harder to trace, since it doesn't follow a single surname and it changes much less often than yDNA, which can lead to very distant matches.  It can still be useful though... I just haven't used it.

     Two sets of results, Evans and Witt, were obtained through 23andMe, which does not provide details, such as markers, matches with other users or public member groups.  I really don't have any reason not to pursue my Albea results at ftDNA, which does provide all of those features.

     At the least, I can see where I might eventually trace these maternal lines to in Europe.

Tracing the Women

     It's mother's day, a day designed to honor moms for all that they do for us. (Thanks mom!) And with all of the DNA testing I've been doing lately, mother's day puts me in mind of mtDNA tests. These tests trace straight back through the female line. [If you are confused about the different types of DNA tests available, I highly recommend that you check out the webinars at relativeroots.net]

     My direct maternal line is:

• Betty Huyler - 1931-2005, GA
• Ruby Waters - 1911-1953, GA
• Louise Smith - 1881-1949, GA
• Rachel Garmon - 1850-1915, GA
• Martha Yancy - 1820-aft 1850, GA
• Mary (Smith?) - abt 1790-aft 1860, SC

     Any female, directly descended from one of these women, directly through women, will have the same mtDNA as I do.  My mtDNA test results are:

• HVR1 Differences:
• 16189C
• 16192T
• 16256T
• 16270T
• 16291T
• 16399G
• HVR2 Differences:
• 73G
• 263G
• 309.1C
• 315.1C

     These results place me in the U5 haplogroup, likely the U5a1b1 sub clade, which I think is a Northern European haplogroup. I'd like to do the FGS test, but it's pretty expensive... one day!

My Mom

My mom, age 21, holding my brother, Allen (1976). I love this photo.