HOW DNA CAN BE USED TO TRACE FAMILY TREES A tool for discovering our past In recent years, scientific research has revealed how portions of the genetic code of everybody alive today are inherited from a number of very ancient ancestral lineages. This means that, by examining your DNA, it is now possible to trace your family tree back into the depths of prehistory, to a time when modern humans were only just beginning to explore our planet.

How do we receive DNA from our parents?     How does DNA evolve?   How does GeoGene do the analysis?

Using mitochondrial DNA to discover maternal ancestry Your mitochondrial DNA provides a link to your ancient maternal ancestors. From this information we produce your GeoMother™ Wallchart. Mitochondria are small intracellular organelles that are responsible for energy production in the cell. They have their own "genome" which is very small - only 16,569 base pairs in length, less than 1/300,000th of the total lenght of DNA molecules in the nucleus of a human cell. We inherit our mitochondrial DNA from our mothers.

Find out more about maternal ancestry (GeoMother™)

Using DNA to discover paternal ancestry

Looking at information preserved within your Y chromosome enables scientists to identify your ancient genetic ancestors on your father’s side. From this information we produce your GeoFather™ Wallchart.