The FGIH supports investigative tests of
mitochondrial disorders by offering whole
genome sequencing of the mitochondria (without requiring whole genome/Exome nuclear DNA sequencing) or just the control region.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is used to study the genetic origin of populations, help to determine population kinship and to better understand the gradual changes
of the gene pool in space and time.

The distribution of different mutations across the global populations is not uniform, thereby allowing geographical ancestry of biological evidence to be inferred, which can be critical in genealogy studies.