The maternal and paternal lines in a family pedigree are the lineages or ancestral lines that can be traced exclusively through the mother's side of the family (in the case of maternal lines) or the father's side of the family (the paternal line). These lines can be used to track the family history of a person,[1] and can shed light on that person's genetic makeup, cultural background, and the significant influence their predecessors had on them.[2]
By examining both the maternal and paternal lines, individuals gain a comprehensive understanding of their ancestry and genetic heritage.[3] The combination of mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome analysis provides a unique opportunity to delve into the deep past, uncovering the stories of our ancient forebears and their journeys across the globe.[4]
Additionally, researching our maternal and paternal lines can help us gain a deeper grasp of human history and the connections between various populations. It demonstrates how globalization has impacted our diverse globe through migration, mingling, and cultural exchange. These genetic studies can also upend preconceived ideas about who we are by reminding us that our heritage is a mosaic of various factors rather than a single, unchanging one.[5]
Maternal lineage
The maternal line, sometimes referred to as the mother's line or the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) line, is an unbroken chain that starts with a person's mother and goes all the way back to the first known female ancestor.[6] Mitochondrial DNA is distinct in that it doesn't change throughout the course of generations and only receives genetic material from mothers. This is because mitochondria, the organelles inside cells that produce energy, are only passed down through the mother's egg cell.[7]
Scientists can retrace the migration routes that ancient maternal ancestors traveled thanks to the unique information that mitochondrial DNA provides about the ancestry of a person.[8] Researchers can discover shared maternal lineages and track the migration patterns of various groups across continents and across time by comparing the genetic markers seen in modern populations.[9] Furthermore, mtDNA research can shed light on population shifts, intermarriages, and the genetic diversity of human communities.
Paternal lineage
The Y-chromosome, which is only passed from fathers to their male offspring, determines the paternal line in contrast to the maternal line.[10] This enables the investigation of the paternal lineage because only males possess the Y chromosome and are able to pass it on to subsequent generations. The Y-chromosome, like mtDNA, has distinctive genetic markers that can be used to determine a person's paternal ancestry.[11] The paternal line can be studied, just like the maternal line, to learn more about a person's genetic heritage as well as historical occurrences like migrations, population interactions, and even the development of surnames, with the limitation of being restricted to male individuals.[12] Y-chromosome testing can be used by geneticists and genealogists to determine shared paternal lineages, analyze surname distribution trends, and discover the etymological roots of family names.
Researching maternal and paternal lineage with autosomal DNA testing
Autosomal DNA tests like MyHeritage DNA can also assist a researcher in studying their maternal and paternal lineages. Autosomal testing provides a list of DNA matches, individuals who share DNA with the person tested, and comparing these matches to known relatives on either side of the family can help a genealogist expand their family trees and trace their maternal and paternal lines.
See also: How to understand DNA matches
Maternal and paternal lines and heritage preservation
In addition to satisfying the need to learn more about the heritage of a researcher, the study of maternal and paternal lineages advances the common understanding of the history of humanity,[13] by aiding the understanding of the complex web of historical, genetic, and cultural influences that have molded human identities and of the society as a whole.
Medical research also depends on the preservation and comprehension of mother and paternal lines, since genetic information can help with the detection and prevention of some hereditary disorders, as certain conditions affect exclusively one line and/or are transmitted by the other,[14] with hemophilia being the most classic example, as it is a condition that is carried by females but it primarily affects males. Therefore, learning about the hereditary vulnerabilities of a person by knowing their paternal and maternal lines can help improve their medical care.
See also
Explore more about maternal and paternal lines
- The MyHeritage DNA test
- How Do I Trace My Maternal and Paternal Heritage with MyHeritage DNA?, article by Daniella Levy on the MyHeritage Knowledge Base
- I Received DNA Matches, Now What? webinar by Daniel Horowitz on the MyHeritage Knowledge Base
References
- ↑ Ellis, B. J., & Essex, M. J. (2007). Family environments, adrenarche, and sexual maturation: A longitudinal test of a life history model. Child development, 78(6), 1799-1817
- ↑ Boas, F. (1932). The aims of anthropological research. Science, 76(1983), 605-613.
- ↑ Agamy, L., Faerman, M., & Smith, P. (2002). Mitochondrial DNA Analysis in a 5300-year-old Specimen from Israel. Ancient Biomolecules, 4(3), 121-167.
- ↑ Mersha, T. B., & Abebe, T. (2015). Self-reported race/ethnicity in the age of genomic research: its potential impact on understanding health disparities. Human genomics, 9, 1-15
- ↑ Munday, P. L., Warner, R. R., Monro, K., Pandolfi, J. M., & Marshall, D. J. (2013). Predicting evolutionary responses to climate change in the sea. Ecology letters, 16(12), 1488-1500
- ↑ Jobling, M. A., Rasteiro, R., & Wetton, J. H. (2016). In the blood: the myth and reality of genetic markers of identity. Ethnic and racial studies, 39(2), 142-161.
- ↑ Hayden, C. P. (1995). Gender, genetics, and generation: Reformulating biology in lesbian kinship. Cultural anthropology, 10(1), 41-63
- ↑ Nash, C. (2012). Genetics, race, and relatedness: Human mobility and human diversity in the genographic project. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 102(3), 667-684
- ↑ Tosi, A. J., Morales, J. C., & Melnick, D. J. (2003). Paternal, maternal, and biparental molecular markers provide unique windows onto the evolutionary history of macaque monkeys. Evolution, 57(6), 1419-1435.
- ↑ Maggert, K. A., & Golic, K. G. (2002). The Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster exhibits chromosome-wide imprinting. Genetics, 162(3), 1245-1258.
- ↑ Dulik, M. C., Zhadanov, S. I., Osipova, L. P., Askapuli, A., Gau, L., Gokcumen, O., ... & Schurr, T. G. (2012). Mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome variation provides evidence for a recent common ancestry between Native Americans and Indigenous Altaians. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 90(2), 229-246.
- ↑ Fiorini, S., Tagarelli, G., Boattini, A., Luiselli, D., Piro, A., Tagarelli, A., & Pettener, D. (2007). Ethnicity and evolution of the biodemographic structure of Arbëreshe and Italian populations of the Pollino area, southern Italy (1820-1984). American anthropologist, 735-746.
- ↑ Nelson, A. (2008). Bio science: Genetic genealogy testing and the pursuit of African ancestry. Social studies of science, 38(5), 759-783.
- ↑ Blazer, D. G., & Hernandez, L. M. (Eds.). (2006). Genes, behavior, and the social environment: Moving beyond the nature/nurture debate.