Mitochondrial Inheritance

Mitochondria are the primary sites of cellular respiration, where energy is produced through the process of oxidative phosphorylation.

Mitochondrial DNA is inherited solely from the mother, following a non-Mendelian pattern known as cytoplasmic inheritance.

Mitochondria contain their own circular DNA, known as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is distinct from the nuclear DNA.

Human mitochondrial DNA encodes approximately 37 genes, including those involved in oxidative phosphorylation and protein synthesis.

MELAS is a mitochondrial disorder caused by mutations in mtDNA, characterized by seizures, muscle weakness, and lactic acidosis.

Heteroplasmy refers to the coexistence of different mtDNA genotypes within a single cell or individual.

DNA Polymerase Gamma is the main enzyme involved in the replication of mitochondrial DNA.

Mitochondrial ribosomes are responsible for synthesizing proteins that are essential for mitochondrial function.

Autophagy is the process by which damaged mitochondria are selectively degraded and recycled by the cell.

Horizontal gene transfer refers to the transfer of genetic material between organisms that are not parents and offspring.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a widely used technique for amplifying and detecting specific DNA sequences, including those in mitochondrial DNA.

Mitochondrial fusion is the process by which two or more mitochondria merge to form a single, larger mitochondrion.

Mitochondrial fission is the process by which a single mitochondrion divides into two or more smaller mitochondria.

Mitochondrial transport refers to the movement of mitochondria along cellular structures, such as microtubules and actin filaments.

Mitochondrial biogenesis is the process by which new mitochondria are formed within a cell.