Introduction:
In this lab we amplified a region of DNA that is found in the mitochondria. Mitochondria have their own set of DNA. Mitochondrial DNA has “16,500 DNA building blocks (base pairs), representing a small fraction of the total DNA in cells. — Mitochondrial DNA contains 37 genes,” (Genetics Home Reference, NIH, 2014) The part of the DNA that we amplified was the D-loop region. This part of the mitochondrial genome is the origin of replication for the mitochondria. This part of the mitochondria is also “prone to somatic mutation, which are a type of non-inherited mutation.” (Genetics Home Reference, NIH, 2014) One’s mitochondrial DNA is only inherited from the maternal side. The reason why is because when “an egg cell is fertilized, nuclear chromosomes from a sperm cell enter the egg and combine with the egg’s nuclear DNA producing a mixture of both parents’ genetic code.” (Groleau, PBS, 2014) Since the mtDNA is the exact same as the mother’s one can trace back the lineage of their maternal side and trace from what part of the world they are descended from. The mtDNA contains a history storybook of the travels and nomadic paths their ancestors took before their creation. The purpose of amplifying this region of mtDNA is to trace back our lineage.
Methods:
We first started out with DNA extraction. We swabbed a toothpick on the inside of our cheek. We isolated the mitochondrial DNA from that sample of cheek cells. We used different reagents that lysed the cells and made it easier for the students to be able to have access to the nucleic acids. For example the buffer ATL breaks down the cell membrane, but has the environment similar to the cell as far as salt and pH concentration. The proteinase K breaks do...
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...wski T, Perkova M, Rogalla U, et al. (2010) The Peopling of Europe from the Mitochondrial Haplogroup U5 Perspective. PLoS ONE 5(4): e10285. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010285
"Mitochondrial DNA." - Genetics Home Reference. N.p., 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 3 May 2014. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/mitochondrial-dna
"mtDNA Haplogroups." WorldFamilies.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014. http://www.worldfamilies.net/mtdnahaplogroups
Owen, James. "Modern Humans Came Out of Africa, "Definitive" Study Says."National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 18 July 2007. Web. 4 May 2014. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/070718-african origin.html
"The Human Journey: Migration Routes." Genographic Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014. https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/human-journey/
Vigilant, Linda, Mark Stoneking, and Henry Harpending. "Human Mitochondrial DNA." (1991).
samples. In our experiment we learned the how to replicate tiny samples of DNA into usable
Mitochondrial DNA has a lot of characteristics and features which makes its use very essential in determining the spread of humans throughout the world. Human mitochondrial DNA is solely inherited from mothers. A human’s mitochondrial DNA is the same as his mother’s mitochondrial DNA, which is the same as her mother’s mitochondrial DNA. Researchers can estimate a probability distribution of ancestors’ genes and migration paths through time if they are given a set of mitochondrial gene sequences. It is assumed that all mitochondrial DNA types in the human gene pool can ultimately be traced back to a common matrilineal ancestor that lived approximately 200,000 years ago in Africa.(Oven et al, 386) All human mitochondrial DNA can be traced back to a single mitochondrial DNA known as “mitochondrial Eve”, who lived in Africa a long time ago. Mutations are m...
. DNA can be left or collected from the hair, saliva, blood, mucus, semen, urine, fecal matter, and even the bones. DNA analysis has been the most recent technique employed by the forensic science community to identify a suspect or victim since the use of fingerprinting. Moreover, since the introduction of this new technique, there has been a large number of individuals released or convicted of crimes based on DNA left at the crime scene. DNA is the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid.
Mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA) is inherited from the mother and passes down from female generations. For that reason, molecular biologists are able to link DNA from one person to a relative. I found it peculiar that albeit this specific genetic material is located in the mitochondria, which are housed within the eukaryotic cells and those cells have been reported to contain mostly introns; non coding sequences, this would be a reliable source for DNA.
contained mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), completely intact. Mitochondrial DNA is tougher than the DNA found in cell nuclei; it is also found in the cytoplasm of a fertilized egg and is passed only through maternal lineage. This makes it much easier for the team to study and makes testing more accurate.
... and therefore mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother. Thus this DNA would be a unaltered sequence passed strictly along maternal lines and only changing by accident or mutation.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is an acclaimed extraordinary discovery that has contributed great benefits in several fields throughout the world. DNA evidence is accounted for in the majority of cases presented in the criminal justice system. It is known as our very own unique genetic fingerprint; “a chromosome molecule which carries genetic coding unique to each person with the only exception of identical twins (that is why it is also called 'DNA fingerprinting ')” (Duhaime, n.d.). DNA is found in the nuclei of cells of nearly all living things.
The mitochondria is an organelle which is generally an oval shape and is found inside the cytoplasm and is again apart of the eukaryotic cells. The main function of the mitochondria is to complete cellular respiration; in simple terms it acts like a digestive system to break down essential nutrients and to convert it into energy. This energy is usually found to in ATP which is a rich molecule taken from the energy stored in food. Furthermore, mitochondria stores calcium for signalling activities; such as heat, growth and death. They have two unique membranes and mitochondria isn’t found in human cells like the red blood cells yet liver and muscle cells are filled entirely with mitochondria.
Next, I had to pour 10 mL of water in to a small drinking cup. I then transferred the water into my mouth and swished it around for at least 30 seconds. While the water was in my mouth, I lightly bit the inside of my cheek to collect more cells. The more cells I collect now, the more DNA I will be able to extract later. After 30 seconds, I spit the water back in to the drinking cup.
Nachman, M W., W M. Brown, M Stoneking, and C F. Aquadro. "Nonneutral Mitochondrial DNA Variation in Humans and Chimpanzees." NCBI PubMed (1996). 30 Mar. 2008 .
LAB REPORT 1st Experiment done in class Introduction: Agarose gel electrophoresis separates molecules by their size, shape, and charge. Biomolecules such as DNA, RNA and proteins, are some examples. Buffered samples such as glycerol and glucose are loaded into a gel. An electrical current is placed across the gel.
Mitochondria are small granular or filamentous bodies which are called the power house of the cell. They are associated with cellular respiration and are the sources of energy. In 1850, the German biologist Rudolph Kolliker first observed mitochondria as granular structures in striated muscle [Powar, C.B. 2010; Albert et al. 2010]. In 1898, the scientist Benda developed the crystal violet staining technique and called the structures mitochondria. The average length of the mitochondrion is 3-4 microns and the average diameter 0.5 to 1.0 micron. In muscles, most of the mitochondria are 2-3 microns long. Mitochondria have different shapes. The number of mitochondria is different in different types of cells of different organs. They are distributed evenly in the cytoplasm. In sperms they are present in tail, in muscles they lie between the myofibrils. Mitochondria may move freely in some cells. Where ever ATP required. Movement is less in animals than plants. In plants they change their shape and volume [Powar, C.B. 2010; Albert et al. 2010].
The Lazarus Project team were able to recover cell nuclei from tissues gathered in the 1970s that were kept for 40 years in a conventional deep freezer. After repeating experiments for 5 years researches used a technique known as somatic cell nuclear transfer. To complete this, scientists used fresh donor eggs from a distantly related Great Barred Frog. The egg
The scientific and medical progress of DNA as been emense, from involving the identification of our genes that trigger major diseases or the creation and manufacture of drugs to treat these diseases. DNA has many significant uses to society, health and culture of today. One important area of DNA research is that used for genetic and medical research. Our abi...
Most of our DNA is passed on as a pairs of chromosomes-half of each pair from the mother and half from the father. Each parent also has a special type of DNA that is exclusive to them that they then pass to their offspring. Mothers pass on Mitochondrial DNA, while Y-chromosome DNA is passed do...