Brown 2012 Abstract Bioblast
| 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
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.
• Keywords: Aging, Mitochondrial genome
• 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: gcb@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
