mtDNA is maternally transmitted and the Y chromosome DNA is paternally transmitted. This difference allows us to investigate historical differences in patterns of movement between the sexes in our species. While studying genomes of individuals living in a region of the world called region A, a researcher finds that mtDNA variation is much more evenly spread than Y chromosome variation. That is, the different mtDNA alleles are spread much more uniformly across populations in the region than are alleles of the Y chromosome. However, in region B she finds the opposite: Y chromosome variation is spread much more uniformly across populations in the region than mtDNA variation. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The uneven distribution of mtDNA variation in region A suggests that females have historically migrated less frequently among populations. Conversely, the more uniform distribution of Y chromosome variation in region B suggests that males have migrated less frequently among populations there. Therefore, in region A, females are more likely to migrate than males, while in region B, males are more likely to migrate than females.

MtDNA Is Maternally Transmitted and the Y Chromosome DNA Is