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Brown 2012 Abstract Bioblast

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Brown GC (2012) Low selective pressure on our mitochondrial genome may explain its rapid evolution, poor adaption and our aging. Mitochondr Physiol Network 17.12.

Link: MiPNet17.12 Bioblast 2012 - Open Access

Brown GC (2012)

Event: Bioblast 2012

Guy Brown

There is a much lower effective selective pressure on our mitochondrial genome relative to nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes because the mitochondrial genome: 1) is present at high copy numbers per cells, 2) does not undergo recombination; 3) is selected in females only, and 4) is not selected by the sperm race. In addition, the mitochondrial genome may mutate at a higher rate. The large mismatch between mitochondrial and nuclear genes in the ability of evolution to select beneficial and eliminate detrimental variants might be a cause of the rapid evolution and poor adaption of mitochondrial genes. As mammals and humans became larger, brainier, with more skills to pass on and delayed sexual-maturity, and decreased extrinsic causes of death, there would have been selection pressure to delay ageing and age-related disease. But that selection pressure would have had relatively little effect on the mitochondrial relative to nuclear genome, causing mitochondria to be a major contributor to aging.

β€’ Keywords: Aging, Mitochondrial genome

β€’ O2k-Network Lab: UK Cambridge Brown GC


Labels: MiParea: mtDNA;mt-genetics, nDNA;cell genetics  Pathology: Aging;senescence 

Organism: Human 







Affiliations and author contributions

Cellular Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK, Email: [email protected]

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