mtDNA is used to test your mother's mother's ... mother's maternal ancestry.  It It is difficult to use for genealogy, as the surname is changing every generation, but there are scattered reports of paper trail connections being made with mtDNA.  For information, see our mtDNA page. 

We encourage everyone who has been mtDNA tested to join their mtDNA haplogroup project.  See our mtDNA Haplogroup Projects page for more information.  

If you are seeking information on your deep ancestry (1000s and 10,000s of years ago) the standard, mtDNA test should be sufficient.  (This test is sometimes called HVR1)

If you wish to use your mtDNA result to confirm a maternal ancestry (you and another person share a common maternal ancestor) then you will gain by taking the mtDNA Plus test (This test is sometimes called HVR1 + HVR2)

If you wish to test your entire mtDNA sequence, then you’ll want the mtDNA Full Sequence test.   (FTDNA calls this test “Mega”)  FTDNA suggests this for anyone who doesn’t wish to be upgrading when they need more info – as this will give you the entire sequence.

An upgrade from mtDNA to mtDNA Plus and the upgrade from mtDNA and mtDNA Plus to Mega are available.

You should check FTDNA for current pricing through the order link below. If this product is a nice to have for you watch out for specials that FTDNA run throughout the year.

Click here to place an order for a DNA test at Family Tree DNA