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I wrote a short paper last year for a Course I took for my own edification.

It is elementary stuff, but some FReepers migh appreciate a few excerpts only.

I am no expert, but I found the subject to be fascinating. I am not trying to pass myself off as an Acedemic. I just like the subject, and below is a bit of what I put together. Some of (likely most of it) it obviously "lifted" from the Internet.

Mitochondria are small energy-producing organelles found in cells. Surprisingly, mitochondria have their own DNA molecules, entirely separate from our nuclear DNA. Most cells contain between 500 and 1000 copies of the mtDNA molecule, which makes it a lot easier to find and extract than nuclear DNA. In humans the mtDNA genome consists of about 16,000 base pairs (far shorter than our nuclear DNA), and has been completely sequenced. What makes mtDNA particularly interesting is that, unlike nuclear DNA which is equally inherited from both father and mother, mtDNA is inherited only from the mother, because all our mitochondria are descended from those in our mother's egg.

The DNA in mitochondria was first discovered in 1963. In that year, researchers discovered that mitochondria have their own DNA or "blueprint" (mtDNA), which is different than the nuclear DNA (nDNA) found in the cells' nucleus. It was noted that the mtDNA was distinct from the nuclear DNA found in the nucleus of cells. It is now believed that mitochondria contain their own DNA because millions of years ago they were once independent living organisms similar to today’s bacteria. ....

By comparing mutations in the DNA of people who live in different parts of the world, geneticists are developing new theories about how humans populated the Earth. The evidence points to a common African origin. Much of the work has been based upon maternal lines. The DNA of present-day Africans is more diverse than that of people of other continents, indicating that humans have lived there the longest. Traces of ancient African genes can be found in everyone living today....^.

The discovery of Mitochondrial DNA has lead to numerous new hypothesis concerning the nature and history of humans. Researchers have discovered many new paths which are currently being followed. Some of these R&D programs are hoped will help in a greater understanding of metabolic processes in animals including humans. As the work continues news articles concerning progress can be found abundantly on the World Wide Web....

Thanks for your addition.

"I wrote a short paper last year for a Course I took for my own edification."

LOL. Last year for my own edification, I earned a certificate for heating and air conditioning. I sure learned a lot about air conditioning. I was prompted when my AC went out, the AC guy came for 20 minutes and charged me $257.00. I can make minor repairs to my own AC now, and, I know the 'riddle' of all the gasses now. Everyone should be moving toward R-134a, it doesn't contain any HFC's and can be purchased without a license.