10-28-2004, 05:27 AM
Sorry one more basic question..
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In contrast to all other genes, mitochondrial DNA (a collection of genes outside the cell nucleus) is inherited only through our mothers, and the Y chromosome is inherited only by men. These two sets of gender-linked genes are passed on unchanged from generation to generation, with no shuffling, and can therefore be traced right back to our ancestors, to the first Primates. We can thus construct two family gene trees, one for our fathers and one for our mothers.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
When we say mtDNA is inherited only through mothers - does it change and given that it doesnt get shuffled with fathers DNA the changes are just replication errors ? Coz if mtDNA and Y chromosome gets directly copied over to the newborn then wouldnt we have the same exact Y chromosome and mtDNA ? There must be some process for change here. Given that there is how do people recognise that P is daughter (say) of Q ?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In contrast to all other genes, mitochondrial DNA (a collection of genes outside the cell nucleus) is inherited only through our mothers, and the Y chromosome is inherited only by men. These two sets of gender-linked genes are passed on unchanged from generation to generation, with no shuffling, and can therefore be traced right back to our ancestors, to the first Primates. We can thus construct two family gene trees, one for our fathers and one for our mothers.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
When we say mtDNA is inherited only through mothers - does it change and given that it doesnt get shuffled with fathers DNA the changes are just replication errors ? Coz if mtDNA and Y chromosome gets directly copied over to the newborn then wouldnt we have the same exact Y chromosome and mtDNA ? There must be some process for change here. Given that there is how do people recognise that P is daughter (say) of Q ?