Large Reservoir Of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations Identified In Humans

ScienceDaily ^ | August 12, 2008 | adapted from Virginia Tech release

[SunkenCiv]

Researchers at the University of Newcastle, England, and the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech in the United States have revealed a large reservoir of mitochondrial DNA mutations present in the general population. Clinical analysis of blood samples from almost 3,000 infants born in north Cumbria, England, showed that at least 1 in 200 individuals in the general public harbor mitochondrial DNA mutations that may lead to disease.... Mutations in mitochondrial DNA inherited from the mother may cause mitochondrial diseases that include muscle weakness, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, or epilepsy. In almost all mitochondrial diseases caused by mutant mitochondrial DNA, the patient's cells will contain a mixture of mutant and normal mitochondrial DNA. The proportion of mutant mitochondrial DNA in most cases determines the severity of disease.

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	This has been sitting around awaiting posting, and will be all for the night (and the week's GGG digest). To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
· Google · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology magazine · Biblical Archaeology Society · · Mirabilis · Texas AM Anthropology News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · History or Science & Nature Podcasts · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·

[Monkey Face]

I’ll be the first to say I’m diseased. My mind has been gone for years! My body is following slowly, in increments, waiting for validation from SOMEWHERE that says I truly exist!

And why, SC, did you post this silly thing??? (she asks, coyly)

[SunkenCiv]

Sounds like you *may* be a mitochondriac. :’)

[Monkey Face]

Takes one to know one....;o]

[HardStarboard]

>>>My body is following slowly, in increments,<<<

Yes, mine too - but the increments are getting bigger with each passing year. That probably means my proportion of mutant mitochondrial DNA is growing as time passes.

At 72, I think I'll double up on my multi-vitamin.

[Monkey Face]

At 64, I’ll raise you a mutant and stand with the DNA I have.

The multi-vitamin may be OK...depending on the type of activity you have in mind.

If your hand has more than a full house, take two aspirin and call me in the morning.

[wildbill]

Anyone see the show on National Geographic channel last night on the Neanderthal DNA code.

Seems like the scientific worm has turned somewhat. Homo Sapiens didn’t necessarily hunt the Neanderthals down and kill them—they bedded them and got some interesting genes from interbreeding, possibly including the one for speech.

And now we know why all you red-headed Scots are so tough.