mt DNA results

[lethearen]

Both men and women inherit mtDNA from our mothers. It's not used much in genetic genealogy, for two reasons. We are more interested in tracing surnames, which are inherited patrilineally, usually, so Y DNA, which men get from our fathers, is more useful in that project. Also, mtDNA mutates slowly, relative to YDNA, so those whose test results match yours are much more distantly related. In other words, it doesn't tell us so much.

So from what I understand, if I want to check up on my mother's father's line, I would actually need to get my uncle (mum's bro) to donate a DNA sample and send it off for yDNA testing?

Of course, I really should do my own yDNA, too... my dad was adopted. His biodad was a Laing, which I think is a Scottish name, too. But who knows?

[gilmore]

So from what I understand, if I want to check up on my mother's father's line, I would actually need to get my uncle (mum's bro) to donate a DNA sample and send it off for yDNA testing?

Of course, I really should do my own yDNA, too... my dad was adopted. His biodad was a Laing, which I think is a Scottish name, too. But who knows?

That's right. To get matches on your mother's patrilineal ancestry, you would need to test your maternal uncle's Y DNA.

If I were you I would indeed be interested in discovering my biological patrilineal ancestry. But that's just me. I can't leave well enough alone.