Why does this Project only use Y-DNA and not mtDNA?
A2. The DNA of all humans is virtually identical — we use the slight differences as a sort of marker or signature that can define a sub-group of our human race. Genealogists are primarily interested in researching family ties within the last thousand years or so, and this means they’re looking for very small and specific sub-groups that we refer to as family branches. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is so stable that it doesn’t change often enough to create any useful markers within our time frame of interest. Y-DNA, on the other hand, has been found to change more rapidly and those minute changes can be used to differentiate one family branch from another within a much more recent time frame. (You are welcome to purchase an mtDNA test at our group rate discount for your own benefit, but it can’t be used in our Y-DNA Project research.
