mitochondrial DNA (was Kerala on CBC)

[Kai Kaletsch <eic@shaw.ca>]

Title: Kerala on CBC [part 2]

Can someone give me a bit of info on mitochondrial DNA? I know what researchers use it for, but what does the body use it for? Is a mutation in mitochondrial DNA likely to have an effect on the viability of the organism? I thought is was quite separate from our regular DNA. Would the repair mechanisms for mitochondrial DNA be the same as for regular DNA?

 

Thanks in advance,

Kai

http://www.eic.nu

and http://www.gammawatch.com/

From: Franta, Jaroslav

To: Radsafe (E-mail)

....

. We look at a part of our DNA which is handed down entirely through the maternal lineage, through the mothers. And this is called mitochondrial DNA, or MT DNA for short. And we looked at this DNA because it's very easy to trace within families....