““MITOCHONDRIAL EVE” MITOCHONDRIAL EVE”

THEORY - The mitochondrial THEORY - The mitochondrial DNA in modern humans was DNA in modern humans was inherited from one common inherited from one common female ancestor in Africa female ancestor in Africa ~200,000 years ago.~200,000 years ago.

Mitochondria Mitochondria

• StructureStructure-cristae-cristae

-matrix-matrix

• FunctionsFunctions-generate energy-generate energy-cellular respiration-cellular respiration-heat production -heat production

• OriginOrigin – – symbiosis of primitive symbiosis of primitive bacteria and eukaryotic cellsbacteria and eukaryotic cells

Mitochondrial DNAMitochondrial DNA

• Double-stranded, circularDouble-stranded, circular• 16,569 base pairs16,569 base pairs• Independent replicationIndependent replication• No recombinationNo recombination• No DNA repairNo DNA repair• 10X higher mutation rate10X higher mutation rate

Mitochondria & FertilizationMitochondria & Fertilization

• Oocytes have 100,000 mitochondriaOocytes have 100,000 mitochondria

• Sperm have < 100 mitochondriaSperm have < 100 mitochondria

• Sperm mitochondria is destroyed after Sperm mitochondria is destroyed after fertilizationfertilization

• Mitochondria is only inherited from the Mitochondria is only inherited from the mothermother

““MITOCHONDRIAL EVE”MITOCHONDRIAL EVE”

THEORY - The mitochondrial DNA THEORY - The mitochondrial DNA in modern humans was inherited in modern humans was inherited from one common female from one common female ancestor in Africa ~200,000 years ancestor in Africa ~200,000 years ago.ago.

Possible Causes/Events for Possible Causes/Events for Mitochondrial EveMitochondrial Eve

• BottleneckBottleneck

• Random Genetic DriftRandom Genetic Drift

• ParthenogenesisParthenogenesis

The ParthenonThe Parthenon

Molecular EvidenceMolecular Evidence

• DNA Restriction DNA Restriction AnalysisAnalysis

• SequencingSequencing

Evolutionary TreeEvolutionary Tree

other Africans

Bushmen

Ethiopians N. AfricansS.W. AsiansMiddle EasternersEuropeansIndiansLapps

N.E. Asians

American Indians

S.E. Asians

Pacific Islanders

New Guineans

Australians

Anthropological EvidenceAnthropological Evidence

• Human Human

bonesbones

• toolstools

SummarySummary

• Mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the Mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the mothermother

• A population bottleneck likely resulted in A population bottleneck likely resulted in Mitochondrial EveMitochondrial Eve

• Molecular and anthropological evidence Molecular and anthropological evidence support the theory of Mitochondrial Evesupport the theory of Mitochondrial Eve

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Key References