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In late February 2025, we were overjoyed when FTDNA released a beta version of an extensive update to the mtDNA tree--the brand new "Mitotree"! This is happening nine long years after the final version of the PhyloTree (previous official mtDNA tree) was published. The team behind the Mitotree is FTDNA's Million Mito Project. They used the PhyloTree as a starting point but then reconstructed the mtDNA tree using the vast amount of new mtDNA data gathered during the past nine years. The team is to be commended for an absolutely monumental accomplishment! A great feature to the recreation of the tree is that it is set up in a way to facilitate periodic updates.
At long last (over the next few weeks), project members will receive updated (or reconfirmed) haplogroup labels representing their most refined subclade (downstream branch of their haplogroup). This is most relevant for members who have taken the mtFull-Sequence test because the test allows all subclade-defining variants to be identified and taken into account. A vast number (but not all) project members will receive a different haplogroup label, but a redetermination will be done to confirm where each member with full-sequence results fits on the tree.
In the meantime, from your FTDNA page, look under your mtDNA options and choose "Discover Haplogroup Reports." Then look for the option to view the "Classic Tree."
Here is a link to an article giving additional information about the Mitotree:
"MitoTree is Born" by Roberta Estes
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NOTE: OUR ORIGINAL & INFORMATIVE BACKGROUND PAGE--WITH BEAUTIFUL FORMATTING--IS NOT SHOWN HERE . . . Due to new limitations placed on formatting options for this page, the page will need to be redone. For now,
only an archived copy of the page is available for viewing. New members, please take a look:
Click here: Project's Background Page
At long last (over the next few weeks), project members will receive updated (or reconfirmed) haplogroup labels representing their most refined subclade (downstream branch of their haplogroup). This is most relevant for members who have taken the mtFull-Sequence test because the test allows all subclade-defining variants to be identified and taken into account. A vast number (but not all) project members will receive a different haplogroup label, but a redetermination will be done to confirm where each member with full-sequence results fits on the tree.
In the meantime, from your FTDNA page, look under your mtDNA options and choose "Discover Haplogroup Reports." Then look for the option to view the "Classic Tree."
Here is a link to an article giving additional information about the Mitotree:
"MitoTree is Born" by Roberta Estes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: OUR ORIGINAL & INFORMATIVE BACKGROUND PAGE--WITH BEAUTIFUL FORMATTING--IS NOT SHOWN HERE . . . Due to new limitations placed on formatting options for this page, the page will need to be redone. For now,
only an archived copy of the page is available for viewing. New members, please take a look:
Click here: Project's Background Page