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Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within cells that convert the energy from food into a form that cells can use. Most other DNA present in eukaryotic organisms is found in the cell nucleus.
Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA are thought to be of separate evolutionary origin,
Each mitochondrion is estimated to contain 2-10 mtDNA copies.
mtDNA is inherited from the mother (maternally inherited).
Mechanisms for this include simple dilution (an egg contains 100,000 to 1,000,000 mtDNA molecules, whereas a sperm contains only 100 to 1000), degradation of sperm mtDNA in the fertilized egg, and, at least in a few organisms, failure of sperm mtDNA to enter the egg. Whatever the mechanism, this single parent (uniparental) pattern of mtDNA inheritance is found in all mammals.
In sexual reproduction, mitochondria are normally inherited exclusively from the mother.
The mitochondria in mammalian sperm are usually destroyed by the egg cell after fertilization. Also, most mitochondria are present at the base of the sperm's tail, which is used for propelling the sperm cells. Sometimes the tail is lost during fertilization.
Mutations in mtDNA can in some cases cause maternally inherited diseases and some evidence suggests that they might be major contributors to the aging process and age-associated pathologies.[3
Virus infections are a major cause of mt DNA mutations see for example
http://www.nature.com/embor/journal/v8/n2/full/7400878.html
MuLV integrates into the mitochondrial genome causing nonsense mutations and forming non-functional repair proteins
XMRV is a MulV class gamma retrovirus
Gammaretroviruses are pathological when inserted into host DNA because of base deletions.the more deletions the more pathogenic.
XMRV has more deletion sequences than any other Gammaretrovirus by a country mile
Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA are thought to be of separate evolutionary origin,
Each mitochondrion is estimated to contain 2-10 mtDNA copies.
mtDNA is inherited from the mother (maternally inherited).
Mechanisms for this include simple dilution (an egg contains 100,000 to 1,000,000 mtDNA molecules, whereas a sperm contains only 100 to 1000), degradation of sperm mtDNA in the fertilized egg, and, at least in a few organisms, failure of sperm mtDNA to enter the egg. Whatever the mechanism, this single parent (uniparental) pattern of mtDNA inheritance is found in all mammals.
In sexual reproduction, mitochondria are normally inherited exclusively from the mother.
The mitochondria in mammalian sperm are usually destroyed by the egg cell after fertilization. Also, most mitochondria are present at the base of the sperm's tail, which is used for propelling the sperm cells. Sometimes the tail is lost during fertilization.
Mutations in mtDNA can in some cases cause maternally inherited diseases and some evidence suggests that they might be major contributors to the aging process and age-associated pathologies.[3
Virus infections are a major cause of mt DNA mutations see for example
http://www.nature.com/embor/journal/v8/n2/full/7400878.html
MuLV integrates into the mitochondrial genome causing nonsense mutations and forming non-functional repair proteins
XMRV is a MulV class gamma retrovirus
Gammaretroviruses are pathological when inserted into host DNA because of base deletions.the more deletions the more pathogenic.
XMRV has more deletion sequences than any other Gammaretrovirus by a country mile
