[PurVirgo]

Mitochondrial DNA (about 15% of your genome) is not just passed from mothers to daughters. It's passed from mother to all of her offspring, the father has nothing to do with this.

You see, mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) can replicate indepentently of the cell because they have their own DNA.

All cells have mitochondria except sperm cells. (If you'd like more info on this freepmail me, I did research for a paper on this recently) What's interesting is that your mitochondria is your mothers, and her's is her mother's. But, and I assume you are male, your children have their mother's mitochondria. It's extremely fascinating.

But I don't buy the theory that these critters don't like men. Had you no mitochondria, you wouldn't be alive to write that post.

I believe that mitochondrial DNA proved that that gal that was in the news not too long ago was a direct decendant from Thomas' Jefferson's affair with a slave girl.

[BabsC]

direct decendant from Thomas' Jefferson's affair with a slave girl.

Or one of his nephews. That's the problem when trying to trace strictly through the male DNA.

[breakem]

I believe the finding was that she was decended from A Jefferson amongst a possible group of men, Thomas included, and several other males members of the family around the Virginia area.

[Just Another Lurker]

All cells have mitochondria except sperm cells. … What's interesting is that your mitochondria is your mothers, and her's is her mother's.

I believe that mitochondrial DNA proved that that gal that was in the news not too long ago was a direct decendant(sp) from Thomas' Jefferson's affair with a slave girl.

That would not work, since the mitochondrial DNA would only trace back to Sally Hemming and not Thomas Jefferson, per you original statement.