How is mitochondria related to human evolution?
I need to know how mitochondria is related to human evolution, and some good sites that can help me understand it. Thanks!
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Mitochondria have their own DNA. Mitochondria have also been thought to be passed down only along the maternal line, meaning we could trace groups back through their mothers. New evidence suggests it can be inherited from both parents, though.
Since mitochondria have their own DNA and are found in plants, fungi, and mammals, it suggests a common cellular ancestor in which the ancestors of cellular organelles either worked symbiotically with mitochondria, or just buddied up and stole power. –Edit: Or what the penguin said.
on mitochondria and human evolution :
http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/ingman.html
Google “endosymbiotic theory of evolution”. Mitochondria (and chloroplasts) are believed to have originally been prokaryotic cells that became engulfed by larger cells, eventually owing to eukaryotic cells that humans are made of. The evidence to support this lies in the fact that mitochondria are semiautonomous organelles with their own ribosomes and DNA.
The DNA found in the mitochondria in both men and women is maternal in origin. By looking at the mutations of the DNA, an expert can determine the point of origin of a person’s maternal ancestors.
i dont know.
help me?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081123173402AAlQ9ml&r=w
Mitochondria are where you produce energy within your cells. They appear to be a captured bacteria that are hitching a ride but aren’t sure that they’ll stay, which is why they have their own DNA.
In terms of the evolution of Humans they don’t play a great part as they perform similar function in our closest ancestors, and more distant ones.
What they offer researchers is an easy way of identifying relatedness as the DNA mutates more frequently than cellular DNA and is simpler allowing a larger number of samples to be compared in a given time. Currently it is believed that Mitochondria are passed through the female line so we can look for our most recent common (female) ancestor and compare that with the various theories of human evolution (multi location, out of africa, etc).
The studies show that all modern humans are highly related with a “mitochondrial eve” at about 170 KYa. This supports the out of africa theory and makes Neanderthal and other species of humans appear to be off shoots rather than part of the line of decent which lead to Homo Sapiens Sapiens