Question

A young man wants to determine if he is a descendant of Henry of Navarre and Eleanor of Aquitaine—two of his favorite historical characters. He sends a cheek swab to a DTC company and is offered a choice: the company can assess either the sequence of the man's Y chromosome or his mitochondrial DNA. Which should he choose?

Answer 1

He should get his mitochondrial haplotype sequenced, given the genetic variation in mitochondrial sequences compared to Y chromosomes.

Step-by-step explanation:

• Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes are specific regions of mitochondrial DNA that cluster with other mitochondrial sequences to show the phylogenetic origins of maternal lineages.
• Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes are associated with a range of phenotypes and disease.
• Mitochondrial DNA contains 37 genes, all of which are essential for normal mitochondrial function.
• Thirteen of these genes provide instructions for making enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation.