If your mtDNA test results match someone else’s, there’s a good bet you’re related, but it’ll be hard to tell how long ago your common ancestor lived. Because mtDNA doesn’t mutate much over time, this test is best for telling you about your “deep” maternal-line ancestry-you’ll be assigned to a haplogroup, often described as your branch of the world family tree.
Somewhat like the feminine version (with a few differences) of the Y-DNA test, a mitochondrial (mt) DNA test will tell you about your female line with no influence of any males along that line. Females who want to find out more about their paternal line need to have a male relative from that line tested. Since only males receive the Y-chromosome, only men can take this test. This test also can be used to determine a haplogroup for your male line. Information from a Y-DNA test relates to your paternal line, with no influence of any females along that line, so it won’t help if you want to know whether you’re related to someone through, say, your father’s mother.
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Preserving Old Photos of Your Family History.