DNA Maternal Ancestry Test
Trace your direct maternal lineage using mtDNA sequencing and discover your family history on your mother’s side.
- Access our complimentary databases to match your DNA to populations around the world.
- Find long-lost relatives and explore your ancient origins.
- Compare your DNA against famous people and historical figures.
$119.00
Trace Your Maternal Roots
The DNA Maternal Ancestry Test test allows you to trace your ancestry through your direct maternal lineage by sequencing your maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This means that you can discover new details about your mother’s, mother’s, mother’s line and beyond.
Match to Populations Around the World
Our extensive databases allow you to match your Y-DNA to populations around the world. Discover your ancient origins and gain a greater understanding of your heritage.
Find Long-Lost Relatives
Connect with long-lost relatives who share your paternal lineage. Our DNA Paternal Ancestry Test provides you with the opportunity to find family members you never knew existed.
Compare Against Famous People
Our Famous DNA Database allows you to compare your Y-DNA against famous and notable people throughout history. See if you have any connections to historical figures such as Marie Antoinette, Genghis Khan, Nicholas Copernicus, King Richard III, and many others.
Choose from our three mtDNA test options:
- Standard Test (HVR1) – This is often all that is required to achieve an adequate resolution.
- Advanced Test (HVR1 + HVR2) – Unlocks all of the search and analysis features of our complimentary databases.
- Premium Test (HVR1 + HVR2 + Coding) – The full mtDNA genome sequence. Testing all three regions of the mtDNA is required to confirm your mtDNA haplogroup and subclade.
Upgrade Options
If you need more detail than the Standard Test provides, you can upgrade to the Advanced or Premium Test at an affordable cost at a later date.
Both men and women can take the mtDNA test to trace their maternal ancestry, as both genders have mtDNA. However, it’s important to note that only women pass down their mtDNA to the next generation.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is genetic material found in the mitochondria of human cells. Think of mitochondria as tiny powerhouses that give energy to the cell. Each cell can have many mitochondria, and each mitochondrion has lots of copies of mtDNA. It’s different from nuclear DNA, which we inherit from both parents.
We only inherit our mtDNA from our mothers. This makes mtDNA a useful way to trace your maternal ancestry because it’s passed down almost unchanged from generation to generation through the maternal line.
The mtDNA genome is circular and is composed of three regions: two small hypervariable (HVR) regions and a large coding region. You can choose to sequence just the HVR1 region, both hypervariable regions (HVR1 and HVR2), or the complete mitochondrial genome (HVR1, HVR2, and the coding region).
The HVR regions contain around 1,100 genetic building blocks (bases) of the mtDNA genome, and most of the variation in mtDNA occurs in these regions. If two people have the same match at their HVR1 and HVR2 regions, further analysis of the much larger coding region can provide a more precise comparison. The coding region covers the rest of the mitochondrial genome, and the complete mtDNA genome has around 16,569 base pairs.
How It Works
Step 1. Order your test kit online.
Step 2. Collect a painless mouth swab DNA sample and mail it back to the lab using the provided return envelope.
Step 3. Once your sample is processed, log in to Genebase to start using the app.
