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Bio-student
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Does mtDNA recombine? I've tried doing my own research but I'm getting very mixed responses, from the evidence being strongly against it, right up to it being a well-known phenomenon in yeast. any insight please?
Bio-student said:Does mtDNA recombine? I've tried doing my own research but I'm getting very mixed responses, from the evidence being strongly against it, right up to it being a well-known phenomenon in yeast. any insight please?
mack_10 said:I would have thought this extremely unlikely
In mammals all the mitochondrial is from the maternal mitochondria there is nothing for it to recombine with
wedris said:In 1992, i found evidence of resolved Holliday junctions in rat mtDNA by PCR across the 16 bp direct repeat. If not an artifact, this at the least would argue for intramolecular recombination producing sub-plasmid minicircles and the reverse. Maybe this would account for the unusually robust maintenance of mtDNA sequence integrity over the long lifetime of mammals in a hostile (respiratory) environement. No one was interested.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a type of genetic material found in the mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles within cells. It is inherited only from the mother and is structured differently from nuclear DNA, which is found in the nucleus of cells and is inherited from both parents.
Recombination is a process by which genetic material is exchanged between two different chromosomes during cell division. In mitochondrial DNA, recombination is rare and occurs through a process called heteroplasmy, where different versions of mtDNA coexist within the same cell. This can happen spontaneously or due to external factors such as environmental stress or disease.
Yes, recombination in mtDNA can lead to genetic diversity. As different versions of mtDNA mix and match, new combinations of genes can arise, resulting in variations in traits and characteristics. This can be beneficial for a species, allowing for adaptation to changing environments.
Yes, mitochondrial DNA recombination has been linked to certain diseases such as mitochondrial disorders. These are caused by mutations in mtDNA, which can be inherited from the mother or arise spontaneously through heteroplasmy. These mutations can affect the function of mitochondria and lead to a variety of health issues.
The study of mitochondrial DNA recombination has many applications in scientific research. It can help us understand the evolution and diversity of species, track maternal lineages, and investigate the genetic basis of certain diseases. It can also aid in forensic investigations and be used as a tool for population genetics and conservation efforts.