Mitochondria

Using an ancient genome to derive the evolutionary relatedness among species.

What are they?

The powerhouses of the cell Also involved in intracellular signalling, cell differentiation, cell

death, as well as the control of the cell cycle and cell growth

In most multicellular organisms, 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; andfailure of sperm mtDNA to enter the egg.

Inheritance of Mitochondria

Exceptions to the universal genetic code (UGC) in mitochondriaOrganism Codon Standard MitochondriaMammals AGA, AGG Arginine Stop codon

Invertebrates AGA, AGG Arginine SerineFungi CUA Leucine Threonine

All of the above

AUA Isoleucine MethionineUGA Stop codon Tryptophan

Evidence of an ancient origin?

REs are sequence-specific nucleases

Methods Overview

• Collect samples• Isolate mtDNA• PCR amplify control region• Statistical analyses

Sample Collection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDSV3FcdJig

mtDNA Control Region

1. Largest non-coding region of the mt-genome

2. Concentrated area of polymorphism

3. Contains Origin of Replication and Origin of Transcription

Conclusion

Hawaiian green turtles are genetically isolated from the rest of the Pacific; e.g. they are one

discrete genetic stock