DNA Match
Your report on the DNA match between a living Briton, Adrian Targett, and the Cheddar Man skeleton (March 9) was incorrect when it stated that this proved Targett to be a direct descendant of Cheddar Man. Since mitochondrial DNA are inherited only from one’s mother, the match can only show that they share a maternal ancestor. Hence they are only cousins--at least 300 times removed.
PAUL ASIMOW
Pasadena
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