A recent study reveals why most animals, including humans, inherit mitochondrial dna solely from their mothers, showing that retaining paternal mitochondria can harm development and health. Mitochondrial dna (mtdna) is inherited maternally across animals, yet the evolutionary rationale behind this unusual mode of inheritance remains a longstanding mystery But mitochondria also support cells in other ways For example, they help cells maintain the correct concentration of calcium ions, which are involved in blood clotting and muscle contraction Mitochondria are also the only structure in our cells with their own unique dna, which with rare exceptions, is inherited only from mothers. Scientists have long wondered why animals get the dna inside their mitochondria, the cell’s energy center, only from their mothers
New research explains why and offers hope for treating mitochondrial disorders. Unlike nuclear dna, which is inherited from both parents, mtdna is inherited exclusively from the mother This unique inheritance pattern is crucial for understanding various aspects of human biology, including energy production, maternal. This is another crucial factor for why maternal mitochondrial dna and why not paternal mitochondrial dna, is inherited Selectively efficient and consistent cell adopts the best option for itself Mitochondrial maternal inheritance is the most efficient and consistent mechanism throughout evolution.
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