Kits that are marked "maternal lineage" receive the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) test to reveal direct maternal ancestry. We test the Hypervariable Region 1 (HVR1: 16001 to 16569) and compares your results to the Cambridge Reference Sequence.
Kits marked "paternal" receive the Y-chromosome test to reveal direct paternal ancestry. (Males only.) This is a 12-marker test. Additional testing such as a SNP test may be run on a Y-chromosome sample if analysis of the 12 STR values does not conclusively indicate a Haplogroup assignment.