GLOSSARY

AUTOSOMAL DNA DNA inherited on the autosomes: the 22 chromosomes which are not sex chromosomes. Inherited from both parents. CHROMOSOME A structure in a cell’s nucleus containing genetic material. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes: 22 autosome pairs and one pair of sex- chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes. Males have an X and a Y chromosome. HAPLOGROUP A group of people who descend from the same branch of the human family tree. MITOCHONDRIAL DNA (mtDNA) DNA found in mitochondria – the power houses in our cells. mtDNA, passed from mother to child, can trace the maternal line. SHORT TANDEM REPEAT (STR) A repeating pattern in a DNA sequence. The number of repeats at a specific location is reported as a marker value. Standard Y-STR tests report results for 37 markers. SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISM Single base pair mutation in a DNA sequence. Y CHROMOSOME DNA (Y-DNA) Y chromosome DNA is passed from father to son, and is used to trace the paternal line.