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Could the mitochondrial DNA of either James Carnegie or Countess Xenia be used to try to identify the skeleton of Tsar Nicholas?

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The answer is neither. Mitochondrial DNA is passed down the maternal line from mother to daughter. The Tsar Nicholas is a male, so mitochondrial DNA could not be used to identify his remains through kinship analysis. Traditional DNA markers or Y-chromosome markers would be more appropriate. 
User Henrique Bruno
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