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