Final answer:
Tracing lineage through the mother's family line is known as matrilineal descent, used in various cultures including some Native American tribes. Most modern societies use bilateral descent, tracing from both parents. Unilineal descent includes patrilineal and ambilineal types as well.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tracing your lineage or ancestry through your mother's family line is known as matrilineal (or uterine) descent. In this system, both men and women trace their descent through their female ancestors. In societies that practice matrilineal descent patterns, such aspects as property, status, and clan affiliation are conferred through the mother's lineage, making it an essential family tracing system among certain cultures, including some Native American tribes like the Crow and Cherokee.
However, the majority of modern societies, including most developed nations, adhere to bilat-eral descent, where kinship is traced through both paternal and maternal lines. This approach incorporates the family contributions of both parents into an individual's heritage and is more inclusive than unilineal descent. Some societies practice unilineal descent, which includes patrilineal descent, tracing family through the father's line, and ambilineal descent, allowing for the choice between the father's or mother's kinship lines.