Talk:Mitochondrial DNA
From Academic Kids
Is anything known about the effects of differences in mitochondrial DNA on organisms? Clearly it isn't going to affect skin color or anything of that sort, but it could conceivably have metabolic effects. Perhaps there is so little variation in mitochondrial DNA that its effects are unknown? Andrew 05:44, Apr 9, 2004 (UTC)
Cleanup
I think this article needs a rewrite. At the moment it has very little to say about what Mitochondrial DNA is and how it differs from nuclear DNA. Are there any major diseases that are due to faults in Mitochondrial DNA? Is Mitochondrial DNA still organised in chromosomes? Does every Mitochondria in the cell have the same set of DNA, what would control this?
The new research showing it is _possible_ to inherit Mitochondrial DNA from the father is interesting, but should be more of a comment towards the end of the article. Maternal inheritance is still far more important and is still what should be emphasised in tracing inheritance. -- Solipsist 09:12, 24 Aug 2004 (UTC)
This should probably go on Wikipedia:pages needing attention rather than cleanup.Dunc_Harris|☺ 10:24, 24 Aug 2004 (UTC)
I'ved added some stuff but it still doesn't cover half of what is known.Geni 10:39, 24 Aug 2004 (UTC)
- Thanks. That looks a lot better. Is the information on the number of rings & genes assuming human/mamillian cells? -- Solipsist 14:12, 24 Aug 2004 (UTC)
- It comes from human but I don't know how much mitacondria differ between speciesGeni 14:15, 24 Aug 2004 (UTC)
This article covers the same territory as the mitochondrial genome page. I suggest that the two articles be merged together. -- Abstraktn 07:44, 17 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Link to vila's work
The link provided by User:Magnus Manske goes to a page requiring authentication. Can he post the extract instead? -- Sundar 12:20, Sep 22, 2004 (UTC)
Traits and Consequences
Nothing is said about what traits mitochondrial DNA may affect - surprising, after 10 years now. I found a reference to "Skuder, P., Plomin R., McClearn, G., Smith, D., Vignetti, S., Chorney, M., Chorney, K., Kasarda, S., Thompson, L., Detterman, D., Petrill, S., Daniels J., Owen, M., & McGuffin P. (1995). A polymorphism in mitochondrial DNA associated with IQ? Intelligence, 21, pages 1-12" but was unable to Google other results or traits. (See [1] (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W4M-45RF6M8-2&_coverDate=08%2F31%2F1995&_alid=284977920&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=6546&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=8bd4188e19f98026ee147e31d445f4f9) )
Such traits could have far-reaching consequences. For example, if higher intelligence were linked to mitochondrial DNA, then the plight of women in male-dominated societies would be improved because the way to determine a woman's intelligence is to educate her. (It wouldn't result in one woman being educated and then her sisters being turned into baby mills because regular DNA undoubtedly also plays a role in intelligence.) Simesa 05:12, 8 Jun 2005 (UTC)
