Significance of Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA is the circular DNA found in mitochondria, solely inherited from the mother. It encodes essential mitochondrial proteins and plays a crucial role in genetic studies due to its high mutation rate, making it useful for tracing lineage and forensic identification. Additionally, mitochondrial DNA is hypothesized to be influenced by certain polymorphisms that may affect cellular processes and contribute to various diseases. It is distinct from chromosomal DNA and is integral in exploring genetic connectivity and phylogenetic relationships.
Synonyms: Mtdna, Mitochondrial genome, Mitochondrial dna sequence
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The concept of Mitochondrial DNA in scientific sources
Mitochondrial DNA, found in mitochondria and inherited from the mother, plays a crucial role in genetic studies by aiding in the exploration of genetic connectivity and phylogenetic relationships among organisms.
From: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
(1) Sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) hypervariable segment I (HVS-I) region revealed polymorphisms and heteroplasmy, indicating a human-specific haplotype across the samples.[1] (2) This refers to the genetic material found in mitochondria, and the copy number of this material was measured to assess mitochondrial biogenesis, which is related to the development of insulin resistance.[2] (3) This refers to the genetic material found in the mitochondria, which are the energy-producing organelles within cells, and is useful for studying ancestry.[3] (4) DNA that is inherited maternally, present in mitochondria, and useful for tracing lineage and forensic identification due to its high mutation rate.[4] (5) DNA located in the mitochondria, distinct from chromosomal DNA, which is exclusively inherited from the mother.[5]