The analysis of genetic variation occurring in human mitochondrial DNA has characterized the field of human population genetics since this small molecule has been sequenced in 1981. First analyses were carried out by restriction analysis and they immediately suggested that mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms could allow a phylogenetic reconstruction of the human populations. The technical improvements which made subsequently easier sequence analyses, allowed to refine the previous results and to understand many aspects of the human origin and of the dispersal of human populations in the world. Interestingly, the variability of mitochondrial DNA turned out to be not neutral but to affect the adaptation to the environmental factors (such as climate and diet) and many complex traits such as aging and degenerative diseases.
Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms
Passarino G;ROSE, Giuseppina
2013-01-01
Abstract
The analysis of genetic variation occurring in human mitochondrial DNA has characterized the field of human population genetics since this small molecule has been sequenced in 1981. First analyses were carried out by restriction analysis and they immediately suggested that mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms could allow a phylogenetic reconstruction of the human populations. The technical improvements which made subsequently easier sequence analyses, allowed to refine the previous results and to understand many aspects of the human origin and of the dispersal of human populations in the world. Interestingly, the variability of mitochondrial DNA turned out to be not neutral but to affect the adaptation to the environmental factors (such as climate and diet) and many complex traits such as aging and degenerative diseases.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
