An avid genealogist who gained international attention with his mitochondrial DNA project, is taking his presentation across the pond.

Memorial University math professor Dr. David Pike wowed genealogists around the world with the discovery of a DNA marker that appears unique to Newfoundland and Labrador.

He says the percentages are only getting bigger as more people join the project. The marker is European in origin and linked to an early settler somewhere in the Conception Bay region.

Mitochondrial DNA is passed down through the female line, from a mother to her children. He’s hoping that by gathering more information, they’ll be able to track the woman or group of related women, but they may never know her name.

He’s attending a genealogy conference in Dublin, Ireland this fall where he will present his discovery, and hopefully get more participants.