[Young Werther]

The Mitochoncrial DNA study was published in Scientific American around 1996. Mitochondrial DNA is found in the female of the species. It is passed from mother to daughter. While men may have multiple mates and progeny the female DNA is "pure" as passed from mother to daughter.

the 1998 study was based on scientists who wished to study the "Human Race" and it's migratory pattern. They called for the collection of umblical cords, (cleanest purest source of this DNA) from all over the world. Using a genetic technique to measure the current DNA and follow the DNa backward from mother to grandmother etc they were able to look back at the DNA migration and eventually find the source of present day human populations.

Inuits in Greenland, Peruvian Indians, Alaskan Eskimos, Indians in Oklahoma, Aztecs, Germanic tribes, English Celtics, Eytalians all of humanity shared a common Great Great Grandmother 100,000 years ago.

The scientist called her EVE

The reverse migratory trek of the mitochondrial DNA led the scientist to postulate that EVE lived in the Horn of Africa!

Ergo the whole of Humanity are Arican whatever. Therefore George Washington was our First African American President and soforth and so on!

[Godebert]

"Therefore George Washington was our First African American President and soforth and so on! "

He was also the first Neanderthal president according to some DNA studies.

[Pharmboy]

Males get their mitochondria from their mothers just as females do. Since the mitochondria are not in the nucleus but only in the cytoplasm, the very large egg gives its mitochondria to the embryo upon fertilization. The sperm has very little cytoplasm (and thus relatively few mitochondria) to give to the fertilized egg (it’s really just a nucleus with a tail). You can trace the maternal line through the male as well as the female.

[ElkGroveDan]

While men may have multiple mates and progeny the female DNA is "pure" as passed from mother to daughter.

Let me preface by noting that I have a thorough understanding of DNA and it's use in genetic studies. That said, the above statement is pure nonsense.

Promiscuity verses monogamy has exactly zero to do with the passing down of mitochondrial and/or yDNA. The mother could be a complete and total slut who had a child with every man in the villages, or she could be totally monogamous, in either case however her mtDNA is still going to be "pure" as passed on to any and all of her children. Likewise the father could be a sexual ally-cat and have kids with dozens of wives or just one. His paternal or yDNA will be handed down to any and all of his sons, intact and traceable.

The rates of mutation in the two may vary, with the mtDNA doing so at a slower rate, but that's not what was articulated in the gibberish quoted above.