As mentioned above, most DNA in a human cell is found in the cell nucleus, packaged into the familiar forty-six chromosomes. But, a small amount of DNA also resides in the mitochondria, where it codes for the synthesis of proteins the mitochondria need to convert food into cellular energy. Since mitochondria are situated in the cytoplasm of the cell, and since the ovum always contributes much more cytoplasm to the human embryo than does the sperm, the mitochondria-and, thus, the mitochondrial DNA-come exclusively from the mother. -Redefining Race: Can Genetic Testing Provide Biological Proof of Indian Ethnicity? by Eric Beckenhauer Stanford Law Review Vol.56:161 October 2003 pg.179
Posted on: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 23:18:04 +0000