Mitochondrial Dn An Important Tool For Discovering Shared Ancestors

By using DNA sequencing software and using comparative DNA alignment programs, scientists can piece together where the differences and similarities align and the percentage of identical DNA between two species. Another method of classifying these gene-swapping organisms is to alter the method of vertical genomics and shift to a new form of lateral genomics (Koonin et al. 2001). A method using vertical, linear genomics alone will not provide enough resources to clearly assign an organism to a taxonomic group. Also, scientists can look at gene loss over time as a method to group these organisms (Koonin et al. 2001). If scientists would rather stick with similarities to define a taxonomic group, the use of genomic instruments can provide a better picture of which genes are highly conserved between organisms of the same group (Doolittle 1999). Researchers have begun to employ this method as the means for best completing a phylogenetic tree. Using alignments of single copy genes conserved in the genome allows for scientists to achieve that vertical pattern of phylogeny that can be lost when focusing on the amount of transferred genes between groups (Lang et al. 2013).

Mitochondria are small organelles found in eukaryotic cells which respire aerobically. They are responsible for generating energy from food to ‘power the cell’. They contain their own DNA, reproducing by dividing in 2. As they closely resemble bacteria, it gave the idea that they were derived from bacteria (which were engulfed by ancestors of the eukaryotes we know today). This idea has since been confirmed from further investigations, and it is now widely accepted. (Alberts et al., 2010a)

The following results helped obtain the haplogroup that in which the sequence of mtDNA would identify. The PCR reaction worked, and this can be determined by looking at the agarose gel in figure 1. If the PCR reaction was successful, than a band should appear around 550bp. Individual AC displays a band around 550bp, this means the PCR reaction was successful. The band for individual AC, depicts a low concentration of product, because the band faint. After the purification process the concentration, A260/280 ratio, and A260/A230 ratio were determined by using the nanodrop. The concentration of mtDNA in the product was 60.9 ng/uL. The ratio for A260/280 was 1.79 and the ratio for A260/230 was 0.77. The A260 and 280 are a spectrometer measurement that measure absorbance at wavelengths of

(c) DNA fingerprinting could be used to exonerate or to convict suspected criminals. DNA fingerprinting could also be used to build phylogenetic trees

DNA Profiling exists in blood, bone, hair follicles, saliva, semen, skin and sweat. They are the same in every cell and retain their distinctiveness throughout an individual’s lifetime.

The results: All 111 screened samples revealed 100% human cytochrome b. Furthermore, no heteroplasmic bases were found that would indicate contamination or a mixture. Heteroplasmy is defined as the presence of more than one mitochondrial genome within a tissue sample from a single individual. No heteroplasmic bases were found, the mtDNA was from a single source, therefore contamination is impossible.

The connection between the use of mtDNA and the World Trade Center disaster would be that forensic scientists and special doctors used mtDNA testing to help identify victims that had died in the World Trade Center. MtDNA testing is commonly used to determine a person’s ancestry and diagnosing certain diseases. The World Trade Center catastrophe was one of the first times mtDNA testing was used on disaster victims. With the help of mtDNA testing, forensic scientists were able to identify more than half of the 2,749 people who died September 9, 2001 during the World Trade Center disaster.

Anthropologists argue that race does not exist because it is not a biological entity. The cornerstone of this basis is Fish’s illustration that humans are a species; therefore we cannot be genetically different. This means that people from anywhere on earth can mate and produce fertile offspring. Using mitochondria we are able to trace the migration of mankind by using genetic markers. This is based on the idea that both males and females inherit mitochondrial DNA identical to their mother. By performing a general DNA analysis on people from all over the world, social scientists can

Microsatellite and mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) genetic markers are often used in population genetic studies. Please detail the differences in their mode of inheritance, as well as what types of genetic information that these markers may provide.

Introduction: Through the second portion of the semester, we used the same DNA that we extracted from our cheek cells to amplify and analyze a region from our mitochondrial DNA instead of nuclear DNA. The DNA was amplified through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and then run on a 2% agaraose gel. The locus we looked at was the D Loop, a noncoding region that is the origin of replication for mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA is only inherited from the mother, so our mitochondrial DNA is identical to our mothers. Mitochondrial DNA does not experience recombination but can experience mutations when replicating.

DNA Fingerprinting, also known as DNA Profiling, is a method used to identify a person using DNA patterns that are specific to him/her. 99.9% of DNA is identical in every human being, but .01% is enough to distinguish between people. It is most commonly used in criminal cases to link a criminal to his/her crime scene, but is also used for paternity/maternity tests, and immigration records. Usually a skin, hair, or body fluid sample is collected from a crime scene or criminal or test candidate, then DNA is extracted and cut using enzymes that recognize patterns in DNA and run through a gel by an electric current in a process called electrophoresis (Annely).

Mitochondrial-leading sequences (MLS) or mitochondrial targeting signals (MTS) are derived from mitochondrial proteins synthesized in the cytosol and act to deliver various molecules to the mitochondria [9]. These mitochondrial proteins are synthesized as larger precursors that contain an amino-terminal cleavable pre-sequence which functions as the mitochondrial matrix-targeting signal [128]. MTS typically contain about 10 -- 80 amino-acid residues with the presence of many positively charged, hydrophobic, and hydroxylated residues. A key property of MTS is their ability to form an amphipathic a-helix that presents one positively charged surface and one hydrophobic surface. These structural features allow recognition by the mitochondrial protein

Teeth and other bones are the only sources of DNA available for human identification. Teeth are good source of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA and have been successfully used in the forensic identification of human skeletal remains. The unique composition of teeth and their location in the jawbone provides an additional protection to DNA as compared to other bones thus making them a good source of DNA in many different cases. Also, postmortem changes in the structure and composition of teeth, and the location of DNA within them are poorly understood. The tooth morphology with respect to DNA content and the preservation and the postmortem changes will affect the recovery of DNA from teeth.

DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid, which is found in almost all living things. DNA serves as a code for the creation and maintenance of new cells within an organism. Within humans, it is found in almost every cell. Although most of our DNA is found within the nucleus of our cells as nuclear DNA, a very small amount of our DNA is also found within the mitochondria as mitochondrial DNA. Because mitochondrial DNA is generally not used for solving crimes, for the purpose of this paper it will be disregarded.

Due to the DNA’s specificity, samples can be utilised for identification. DNA is a nucleic acid composed of deoxyribose sugar bound to a phosphate group and one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine). Each section of these three components are referred to as nucleotides, which are joined to the phosphate or sugar of another nucleotide by strong covalent bonds to form a backbone. The nitrogenous bases are joined to complimentary bases of another nucleotide (adenine with thymine, guanine with cytosine) to create a double stranded molecule (Figure 2). To complete the double helical structure, the molecule coils to compact it’s contents. DNA molecules can contain up to two million base pairs, with a human genome containing approximately 3 million base pairs. The random assortment of nitrogenous bases as well as the numerous mutations within certain DNA sequences, results in genetically diverese DNA molecules and genomes between individials.