Revealing the hidden complexities of mtDNA inheritance

Molecular Ecology
Daniel James WhiteN J Gemmell

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a pivotal tool in molecular ecology, evolutionary and population genetics. The power of mtDNA analyses derives from a relatively high mutation rate and the apparent simplicity of mitochondrial inheritance (maternal, without recombination), which has simplified modelling population history compared to the analysis of nuclear DNA. However, in biology things are seldom simple, and advances in DNA sequencing and polymorphism detection technology have documented a growing list of exceptions to the central tenets of mitochondrial inheritance, with paternal leakage, heteroplasmy and recombination now all documented in multiple systems. The presence of paternal leakage, recombination and heteroplasmy can have substantial impact on analyses based on mtDNA, affecting phylogenetic and population genetic analyses, estimates of the coalescent and the myriad of other parameters that are dependent on such estimates. Here, we review our understanding of mtDNA inheritance, discuss how recent findings mean that established ideas may need to be re-evaluated, and we assess the implications of these new-found complications for molecular ecologists who have relied for decades on the assumption of a simpler mode of inheri...Continue Reading

References

Apr 1, 1979·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·W M BrownA C Wilson
Jan 1, 1978·Annual Review of Genetics·C W Birky
Jun 22, 1978·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·A M KroonH Bakker
Aug 14, 1978·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·J I HayashiY Tagashira
Dec 1, 1992·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M YonedaG Attardi
Sep 1, 1991·Experimental Cell Research·M Satoh, T Kuroiwa
Jul 18, 1991·Nature·U GyllenstenA C Wilson
Apr 16, 1990·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·L Y LinP C Huang
Dec 1, 1989·Genetics·N L KaplanC H Langley
Aug 1, 1989·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T D KocherA C Wilson
Sep 25, 1989·Nucleic Acids Research·M V AshleyW W Hauswirth
Jun 11, 1985·Nucleic Acids Research·D O Clary, D R Wolstenholme
Sep 1, 1985·The Journal of Heredity·U GyllenstenA C Wilson
Jan 1, 1987·Nature·R L CannA C Wilson
Apr 1, 1988·Gamete Research·J Hiraoka, Y Hirao
Nov 1, 1986·Genetics·D M Rand, R G Harrison
Apr 1, 1985·Genetics·D R Wolstenholme, D O Clary
Oct 11, 1974·Nature·C A HutchisonM H Edgell
Oct 1, 1972·Developmental Biology·I B Dawid, A W Blackler
Jun 1, 1971·Theoretical Population Biology·M Kimura
Aug 1, 1965·The Journal of Experimental Zoology·H Ursprung, E Schabtach
Nov 1, 1980·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·R E GilesD C Wallace
Aug 1, 1982·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·W W Hauswirth, P J Laipis
Dec 1, 1981·The Journal of Cell Biology·L Ernster, G Schatz
May 11, 1995·Nature·G A Pont-KingdonG D Clark-Walker
May 9, 1995·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·H KanedaH Yonekawa
Feb 1, 1994·Nature Genetics·P GillK Sullivan
Dec 5, 1995·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·C W Birky
May 21, 1996·Journal of Theoretical Biology·J F Allen
Aug 30, 1996·Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry·K IwahashiY Ichikawa

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 15, 2011·Current Genetics·Nicole L VollmerPatricia E Rosel
Nov 5, 2010·International Journal of Legal Medicine·Cornelya F C KlütschPeter Savolainen
Jan 30, 2010·Journal of Plant Research·Shinichi Miyamura
May 22, 2010·The British Journal of Nutrition·Clive J Petry
Mar 25, 2010·Genome Biology and Evolution·Dana K HoweDee R Denver
Apr 17, 2009·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Daniel James White, Neil John Gemmell
Feb 11, 2009·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Maurine Neiman, Douglas R Taylor
Nov 1, 2013·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Neil J GemmellDaniel M Tompkins
Oct 12, 2010·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Dietrich GotzekDeWayne Shoemaker
Jul 25, 2013·Parasites & Vectors·Filipe Dantas-TorresDomenico Otranto
Nov 8, 2012·PLoS Computational Biology·Maria Ximena SosaAravinda Chakravarti
Mar 26, 2011·PloS One·Loro L KujjoGloria I Perez
Dec 29, 2012·Genetics and Molecular Biology·Andreea DuduMarieta Costache
Sep 29, 2011·World Journal of Diabetes·Brigitte ReusensClaude Remacle
Mar 4, 2014·Comptes rendus biologies·Maykon Passos CristianoTânia Maria Fernandes-Salomão
May 28, 2014·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Jonci N WolffDamian K Dowling
Mar 4, 2014·Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·Howard A Ross
Dec 5, 2014·Journal of Insect Science·Ricardo SalvadorEsteban Hopp
Mar 24, 2015·Mitochondrial DNA. Part A. DNA Mapping, Sequencing, and Analysis·Zhenyong HanJiale Li
Apr 4, 2015·Mitochondrial DNA. Part A. DNA Mapping, Sequencing, and Analysis·Ah Rang KangIksoo Kim
Jan 30, 2015·Mitochondrial DNA. Part A. DNA Mapping, Sequencing, and Analysis·Fenghua WangWen Ma
Feb 28, 2014·Mitochondrial DNA. Part A. DNA Mapping, Sequencing, and Analysis·Fangshu HeJiale Li
May 1, 2015·Journal of Mathematical Biology·R SainudiinA Véber
Nov 5, 2010·Mitochondrion·Sébastien CalvignacChristophe J Douady

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.