Uses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Mitochondrial DNA is a very useful tool in forensic science. It has been used to identify the human remains and the perpetrators of a crime. It was also used to determine ancestry.

In traditional DNA tests, the nuclear DNA is used. Nuclear DNA (nDNA) can be removed from all nucleated cells. However, there are cells that do not contain nuclear DNA. These cells are called non-nuclear DNA of cells. Where is the rest of DNA found? Contain the DNA of mitochondria. Mitochondria are tiny organelles that live in the cytoplasm of a cell. Their role in a cell is used to produce energy for the cell \ 's metabolic processes.

A minute amount of DNA can be found in the mitochondria. Each cell contains many mitochondria tiny organelles. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is important for several reasons:

mtDNA

* Passed from mother to offspring through the maternal line
* Found in places where nDNA can be found
* Very low mutation rates
* Is highly stable

Your mitochondrial DNA is unchanged compared to only your mother. She received hers from her mother, her mother and her mother, and so on.

During fertilization, the mother contributes to her egg zygote AND half of his DNA. The father, on the other hand, contributes only half his DNA via sperm. The sperm then degenerates after its genetic material into the nucleus of an egg. Therefore, all parts of the developing cell zygote are contributed by the mother, including mitochondria. As the zygote divides and multiplies, the mitochondria are reproduced and transmitted to the offspring of parents organelle organelle, the offspring of parents organelle organelle. This means that all cells in a body have mtDNA that are compatible with the mother.

Genetic Mutation of the mtDNA is thought to occur roughly once every 6000 years. This means that mtDNA is extremely stable unlike nDNA. It also means that you have essentially the same mtDNA as your mother, your maternal grandmother, and all your maternal ancestors from hundreds or even thousands of years ago. For this reason, you can accurately trace your heritage kindergarten through several generations.

Because of mtDNA great stability, forensic scientists can remove several times in the bones and teeth of ancient skeletons and thus be used to determine the lineage Mother of skeletal remains. Mitochondrial DNA can also be found in certain tissues, which normally nuclear DNA does not exist. For example, cell death debris can be found in human hair. However, the only thing that is living in the hair follicles of men, where there is an abundance of nDNA. Nuclear DNA can be extracted from here and used for profiling and DNA matching. Simply put, the hair that were withdrawn during a fight or a hangar with its follicle bulge joint can be a rich source of nDNA.

Consider what happens if CSI's finding that human hair was cut and there was no follicle bulb attached? These hairs can still provide clues.

As hair grows, the follicle bulge cells multiply, undergo a transformation and become an integral part of the growth of hair. Part of this change includes the loss of the nucleus of each cell. Therefore, this hair is absent from nDNA, and dead cells that are an integral part of the growth of hair may contain mtDNA. If so, mtDNA can be isolated and used to identify the person who owns the hair.