Inheritance, mitochondrial

Inheritance, mitochondrial
The pattern of transmission of a genetic trait encoded in the mitochondrial genome. Because of the peculiarities of mitochondria, mitochondrial inheritance does not obey the classic rules of Mendelian genetics. Persons with a mitochondrial disease may be male or female but they are always related to one another in the matrilineal line. No male with a mitochondrial disease can transmit it to his children. A female with a mitochondrial disease will transmit it to all of her children. The mitochondria are normal structures or organelles in cells. They are located outside the nucleus in the cell's cytoplasm. The mitochondria are responsible for energy production. They consist of two sets of membranes, a smooth continuous outer coat and an inner membrane arranged in tubules or in folds that form plate-like double membranes (cristae). The mitochondria are in fact the principal energy source of the cell (thanks to the cytochrome enzymes of terminal electron transport and the enzymes of the citric acid cycle, fatty acid oxidation, and oxidative phosphorylation). The mitochondria convert nutrients into energy as well as doing many other specialized tasks. Each mitochondrion has a chromosome that is made of DNA but is otherwise quite different from the far better known chromosomes in the nucleus. It is much smaller and it is round (whereas the chromosomes in the nucleus are shaped like rods). There are also many copies of the mitochondrial chromosome in every cell (whereas there is normally only one set of chromosomes in the nucleus). And, since the mitochondrial chromosome is transmitted in a matrilinear manner, we have Eve to thank for our mitochondrial chromosome.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mitochondrial disease — Classification and external resources Micrograph showing ragged red fibres, a finding seen in mitochondrial diseases. Muscle biopsy. Gomori trichrome stain …   Wikipedia

  • Mitochondrial myopathy — Classification and external resources Simplified structure of a typical mitochondrion ICD 10 G …   Wikipedia

  • Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy syndrome — Classification and external resources ICD 9 277.87 OMIM 603041 …   Wikipedia

  • Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy — Classification and external resources ICD 9 277.87 MeSH D017237 A Mitochondr …   Wikipedia

  • Mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency — Classification and external resources OMIM 609015 DiseasesDB 34111 eMedi …   Wikipedia

  • Mitochondrial DNA — Human mitochondrial DNA …   Wikipedia

  • Mitochondrial inheritance — The inheritance of a trait encoded in the mitochondrial genome. Because of the oddities of mitochondria, mitochondrial inheritance does not obey the classic rules of genetics. Persons with a mitochondrial disease may be male or female but they… …   Medical dictionary

  • Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes — Infobox Disease Name = Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke like episodes Caption = DiseasesDB = 8254 ICD10 = ICD9 = ICDO = OMIM = 540000 MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = ped eMedicineTopic = 1406 MeshID = D017241… …   Wikipedia

  • Mitochondrial genome — The mitochondrial genome is the genetic material of the mitochondria. The mitochondria are organelles that reproduce themselves semi autonomously within eukaryotic cells.The genetic material forming the mitochondrial genome is similar in… …   Wikipedia

  • Mitochondrial Eve — Haplogroup Modern humans Possible time of origin 152,000 234,000 BP [1] Possible place of origin East Africa Ancestor …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”