I'm sorry I didn't remember until last night that I already did my mother's DNA (I hope I'm saying that right). It was done in 2005 by Professor Ely at the University of South Carolina. It was a free research study to find out our original African Tribes ancestry.

I belatedly received the results in March 2006. He said my sequence was found in the L1b1 branch of the African MtDNA and it had been observed in 5 different ethnic groups found in West or West Central Africa: Fulbe, Mandara, Mansonca, Wolof and Sao Tome.

But he finished the email by saying that because my mtDNA is a common type with a wide distribution, my maternal ancestor could have come from virtually any African ethnic group that was a source of slaves.

So, would it make any difference if I do my mom's DNA with a commercial DNA company now?

Ethel Craven-Sweet