Part of the human DNA strand. Although men have it, it is only passed from mothers to their children. See 'Some Notes on Archaeology'.
mtDNA
Fact of the Day
Before the Normans came along, there was no English word for 'castle'.
Quote of the Day
"What recreation tooke I? How lawfull was it? ... Was it not affected with too much delight?
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~ Questions from the seventeenth-century puritan guidebook for women, 'A Fountaine of Tears'
On This Day
1586 American colonists arrived in Plymouth with large quantities of tobacco. Smoking caught on quickly, though it was also used in tea.
1694 The Bank of England was founded by an act of parliament as a way to finance government debt by private subscription.
1943 The concentrated Allied bombing of Hamburg led to a three hour firestorm that killed approx 30,000 civilians.