Matrilineality

1 ANSWERS

1. GiGi
   

   Matrilineality is a system in which lineage is traced through the mother and maternal ancestors.
   
   A matriline is a line of descent from a female ancestor to a descendant (of either s*x) in which the individuals in all intervening generations are female. In a matrilineal descent system (sometimes popularly called uterine descent), an individual is considered to belong to the same descent group as her or his mother. This is in contrast to the more common modern pattern of patrilineal descent. The uterine ancestry of an individual is a person's pure female ancestry, i.e. a matriline leading from a female ancestor to that individual.
   
   A genetic material, Mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA), normally is inherited exclusively from one's mother. Both daughters and sons inherit it all the same. As mt-DNA are considered "cellular power plants," one's metabolism and energy conversion are much influenced by these matrilineal genetic materials, and thereby by one's matrilineal descent. Even ancient physicians had an inkling about such matrilineal heredity: Galen taught that a child's physical frame would (mostly) be provided by maternal heredity.
   
   In some cultures, membership in their groups is inherited matrilineally; examples of this cultural practice include many ancient cultures and continues in the contemporary cultures of those ancient origins such as Huron, Cherokee, Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee), Hopi, Navajo, and Gitksan of North America. In the Old World cultures it is found in Egyptian, Minangkabau, (West Sumatra); and Ezhava, Nairs, and Kurichiyas of Kerala, India, Bunts, Billavas and Mogaveeras of Karnataka, Pillai caste in Nagercoil District of Tamil Nadu; the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo of Meghalaya, India, the Naxi of China, and the Tuaregs.

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