Linda, Essentially, the mitochondrial information of a women is passed to all of her children. Her daughter would have the same information. Then her daughter would have the same info and so. Following all material lines down from Anna Barbara Shoene, they would all the same mitochondrial info. Now as the info is passed from a mother to her children, there may be some small changes in the information. These are very rare as a change only occurs, on the average, every few thousand years. It appears that 95 percent of the people in Europe are descended from only seven women. See the book, "The Seven Daughters of Eve." Are the Fleshmans having a special family meeting at the Germanna Reunion next summer? -- John.Blankenbaker@comcast.net