Dear William, Daniel, Catherine, (and Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Yesterday I showed you one of my favorite photographs, the photo of Babcia Krysia being a good (GREAT!) Mom to Malgosia.

 

 

Well, today, I want to show you, and discuss with you, another great photograph:

Here they are eleven years later:

See also:

So, why do I like this picture (and the other two that are part of this set) so much? Because … it is a picture of several special women in my life. These special women are the the carriers of a special kind of DNA, known as Mitochondrial DNA, which is identical in each of them, which is passed-on from mother to daughter.

So, what is Mitochondrial DNA!?

I am not a biologist; and I am not even a scientist. But, you can read about Mitochondrial DNA HERE. The picture on the right shows how it traveled through the ages in women, starting with “Eve” (from Adam and Eve) through the time that Pra-Babcia Irena Neuman was born in Poland, before she came to America.

Boys do not have this privilege (we have many other privileges — but THIS privilege, the privilege to pass-on Mitochondrial DNA, is reserved only for MOTHERS and their DAUGHTERS).

Catherine, that makes YOU very special. In at least that one respect, you are identical to your Mom, and to your Grandma Maureen, and to your Grandma Maureen’s Mom, and so on and so on.

And Daniel, your cousin Gabriela is special in that, in at least that one respect, she is identical to her Mom, and to your Abuelita Elba, and to your Abuelita Elba’s Mom, and so on and so on.

So, William and Daniel, now you know why daughters so so very special — they are the keepers of a special code that is passed-on from generation to generation,  from mother to daughter, from Eve to eternity. Do your part, and respect them, and protect them, and love them.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.