Question

A man receives his DNA ancestry testing results. He finds that he has mitochondrial haplogroup U, and Y chromosome haplogroup D. What are the ancestries of his parents?

A) His mother has Japanese ancestry and his father may have European, Asian, or African ancestry.
B) His mother may have European, Asian, or African ancestry. His father has Japanese ancestry.
C) His mother has African ancestry and his father has Japanese ancestry.
D) His mother may have European, Asian, or African ancestry. His father has Native American ancestry.

Answer 1

The man's mitochondrial haplogroup U suggests a possible maternal ancestry from European, Asian, or African origins, while his Y chromosome haplogroup D points towards paternal Japanese ancestry.

Step-by-step explanation:

The man's mitochondrial haplogroup U indicates a maternal line that could trace back to a wide range of ancestries including Europe, West Asia, South Asia, and North Africa. It does not specifically suggest Japanese ancestry. Meanwhile, the Y chromosome haplogroup D he has reflects paternal ancestry that is notably found in populations in Tibet, the Japanese archipelago (particularly among the Ainu people), and the Andaman Islands.

Therefore, based on the information provided about the man's mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal haplogroups, the most accurate answer is Option B: His mother may have European, Asian, or African ancestry, and his father has Japanese ancestry. This acknowledges the diverse potential origins of mitochondrial haplogroup U and the more specific geographic distribution of Y chromosome haplogroup D.