1. DESCENT
A descent group is any publicly recognized social entity requiring lineal descent from a particular real or mythical ancestor for membership.

2. TYPES OF DESCENT
Types of descent are- unilineal descent, patrilineal descent, matrilineal descent, double descent, ambilineal descent, bilateral descent.

3. UNILINEAL DESCENT
The individual is assigned at birth to membership in a specific descent group, which may be traced either by matrilineal descent through the female line or by patrilineal descent through the male line.

4. PATRILINEAL DESCENT
The individual of a patrilineal descent group trace through other males, their descent from a common ancestor.

5. MATRILINEAL DESCENT
The individual is traced through females.

6. DOUBLE DESCENT
Descent is reckoned both patrilineally and matrilineally at the same time. In this system descent is matrilineal or some purposes and patrilineal for others.

7. AMBILINEAL DESCENT
Each individual has the option of affiliating with either the mother’s or the father’s descent.

8. BILATERAL DESCENT
A person is associated equaly with all consan guineal relatives on both the mother’s and father’s sides of the family.