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Jaro,
From
the third reference, it appears that there are some human diseases and syndroms
that may be the result of mitochondrial DNA. While mitochondria may have
entered cells as bactria, they apprear to play a significant role in cell
function (symbiotic relationship?). Thus, the study of mtDNA may be
important due to this relationship.
Obviously, the massive quantity of mtDNA compared to
nuclear DNA subordinates the role of the former, but a study of mtDNA damage and
repair may provide answers on how these operations work.
--
John
John
Jacobus
3050
Traymore Lane
Bowie,
MD 20715
Jaro,
According to one of the references below,
mitochondria are essentially bacteria that got stuck inside bigger cells. I
would think that a study of radiation effects on mitochondrial DNA, would
be as relevant to human nuclear DNA as a study of radiation effects on any
other bacteria. (I'll put it on-list.)
Kai
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 7:35
AM
Subject: RE: mitochondrial DNA (was
Kerala on CBC)
That
question has occurred to me too: i.e. are "repair mechanisms identical
between mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA?"
If
mitochondrial DNA has NO repair mechanisms, the conclusions would of course
be way off !
Might be
worth repeating it "on-list."
Jaro
(off list)
Thanks John,
When Forster says:
"...because we looked at a region of our
genome which does not code for a gene, so it does not
create any visible effects, whether beneficial or adverse, but there's no
reason to suppose that mutations here of course are restricted to such
non-coding regions. We have to assume that other
genes, like for example, cancer genes, will be equally affected by these
mutations."
Does he mean that cancer genes are carried on
mitochondrial DNA or does he mean damage and repair mechanisms are identical
between mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA? To my (very limited)
understanding of biology, both are wrong.
Radiation effects on mitochondrial DNA is
probably a valid research field on its own. But to leap from a study like
that to some statement about dose limits crosses the line between science
and ....
Good night,
Kai
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002
3:35 PM
Subject: RE: mitochondrial DNA (was
Kerala on CBC)
Kai,
Try
I am not sure if they answer your specific questions, but should
give some useful background information, particularly the last one.
-- John
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
....
. 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....
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