Mitochondrial DNA Testing

Mitochondrial DNA is a primitive type of DNA. Mothers pass on their mitochondrial DNA to their children, both boys and girls. However, fathers do not pass on their mitochondrial DNA. This DNA can be tested to determine the relationship between two samples.

There are several reasons why a linear array Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) test may need to be performed. When a sample is not suitable to undergo other types of DNA testing, to test hair strands without the root, to test a highly degraded tissue, or to test skeletal remains. Outside of forensic casework it can be used for maternal testing, sibling studies, genealogy, grand maternity or maternal kinship analysis. This test works because the DNA in the samples contains certain markers in males and females which are specifically inherited from the maternal line. It is commonly used where there is not enough of a sample or high quality samples to use radioactive probes or nuclear testing on the sample. Linear Array Mitochondrial DNA testing is used to fill in the gaps using a specific genetically inherited marker.

This type of DNA testing is for frequently establishing maternity when the potential mother is not available for testing (either due to death or an unwillingness to cooperate). The test can be used to see if two females are related to each other, but it cannot be used for establishing paternity. For example, an adopted woman who locates her birth family can use this testing to verify her relationship to the family, even if her biological mother has passed away.

However, mitochondrial DNA testing is not the perfect solution. It does not always work because it is only works for determining maternal lineage only. The results take up to two months and the results cannot be compared to other DNA testing methods to help verify the results. Another negative aspect is the cost, which can be $700 or more per sample.

The ability to test mtDNA has brought advances in both forensic DNA testing and genealogical DNA testing. While it is not always the best test available, it is sometimes the only test available in situations where there was not DNA testing available just a few years ago.