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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2001-02 > 0982976633


From: Pamela Berger <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] Questions from the ignorant
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 19:03:53 -0600
References: <3.0.16.20010223082001.2fdf631a@pop.erols.com>


I am interested in Mr. Reitwiesner's book on the descendants of European
royalty. Can you tell us a little about the scope? So much of work on the
royalty concentrates only on the Brits. Thank you. Pam Berger,


William Addams Reitwiesner wrote:

> At 12:43 AM 02/23/2001 -0800, you wrote:
>
> >Another new concept for me has been mtDNA. Do I understand correctly, that
> >this refers to a small amount of DNA (outside of the chromosomes?) that is
> >only in the female line, and my mother's mother's mother, and so on would
> >carry the same mtDNA?
>
> One important distinction to remember is that everybody, male and female,
> has mitochondria (up to hundreds per cell), and that each mitochondrion has
> mtDNA. The "female line" part means that a man's mtDNA is identical to his
> mother's, and her mother's, and so on, while the mtDNA of his children is
> identical to their mother's. In other words, he contributes no
> mitochondria, and thus no mtDNA, to his children.
>
> > It seems mtDNA would be quite difficult to use for
> >specific genealogical verification because of the constant name change of
> >most females.
>
> Heh. Tell me about it.
>
> William Addams Reitwiesner
> author of *Matrilineal Descents of the European Royalty*
>
>
> ==============================
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