Are the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups predicted or confirmed?
The haplogroup designation provided with mtDNA test results from Family Tree DNA and our affiliates are confirmed by a twenty-two marker panel of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), i.e., SNP testing. When we started in 2000, haplogroup predictions were not provided with test results. Looking up comparison data was not user friendly. To help our customers, we began providing comparison based predictions. In 2005, we began running a FREE haplogroup test on every sample. Haplogroup testing is now part of every mtDNA test we run. Our panel of SNPs is the same one that was used in Behar 2007. We are confident that this is above and beyond what anyone else offers and is consistent with our dedication to scientific standards.
