ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we describe how mitochondrial DNA STRs can be used to explore maternal lineage. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from our biological mothers. Mitochondrial full DNA sequences are used to determine one’s ancestral origin. For example, people for sub-Saharan Africa carry L haplotype, whereas people of European origins carry H, I, J, K, M, T, U, V, W, and X. The major haplotypes found in Asians are M and N.
