Question

In certain latin american countries during periods of political volatility, children were removed from their families and their parents were executed (then referred to as being "disappeared"). the methods with the best chance of reuniting those children with members of their extended family have used mtdna matching. why and how?

Answer 1

Mitochondrial DNA, or mtDNA, is passed down nearly unchanged from mother to offspring which is unlike nuclear DNA that is inherited from both parents. Comparing an individual's mtDNA to another individual's mtDNA can locate whether or not the individuals share a common Maternal ancestry.