| The completion of the human genome sequencing | | | | in the nucleus of our cell, but in the mitochondria |
| project was the first step in allowing scientists to | | | | organelles of our cells. These scientists chose to |
| unravel the secrets contained in our DNA. Further | | | | study Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) because of its |
| over the past few years DNA testing has | | | | three unique properties which they explain as:First, |
| become affordable and easy to do. This has | | | | mtDNA gives a magnified view of the diversity |
| spawned the practice of performing DNA testing | | | | present in the human gene pool, because |
| for Genealogical purposes which is called Genetic | | | | mutations accumulate in this DNA several times |
| Genealogy.One of the first genetic genealogy | | | | faster than in the nucleus. Second, because |
| studies was conducted in the late 1980s by | | | | mtDNA is inherited maternally and does not |
| scientists with the Department of Biochemistry at | | | | recombine, it is a tool for relating individuals to one |
| the University of California, Berkeley. These | | | | another. Third, there are about 1016 mtDNA |
| scientists Rebecca L. Cann, Mark Stoneking and | | | | molecules within a typical human and they are |
| Allan C. Wilson studied a newly discovered kind of | | | | usually identical to one another (Cann 31). |
| DNA. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is contained not | | | | |