Organellar DNA

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Organellar DNA (oDNA) is DNA contained in organelles (such as mitochondria and chloroplasts), outside the nucleus of Eukaryotic cells.[1]

  • Mitochondria contain mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
  • Plastids (e.g., chloroplasts) contain plastid DNA (cpDNA)


Inheritance of organelle DNA[]

The traits encoded by this type of DNA, in animals, generally pass from mother to offspring rather than from the father in a process called cytoplasmic inheritance. This is due to the ovum provided from the mother being larger than the male sperm cell, and therefore has more organelles, where the organellar DNA is found.[2]

Although maternal inheritance is most common, there are also paternal and biparental patterns of inheritance that take place.[3] The latter two patterns of inheritance are found most often in plants.[1]

Recombination of organelle DNA is very limited, meaning that any traits that are encoded by the oDNA are likely to remain the same as they are passed from generation to generation.[4]

Structure[]

Unlike nuclear DNA, which is present as linear molecules inside the chromosomes, the entire genomes of chloroplasts and mitochondria are present on a single molecule of double-stranded circular DNA molecule; this is very similar structure to a bacterial chromosome.[1]

Structure and location of mtDNA
Example of genome and structure of ctDNA. This picture specifically shows the genome of a tobacco plant.

See also[]


References[]

  1. ^ a b c Pierce B (2020). Genetics A Conceptual Approach. New York, NY 10004-1562: W. H. Freeman and Company. pp. 328–337. ISBN 9781319297145.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ Greiner S, Sobanski J, Bock R (January 2015). "Why are most organelle genomes transmitted maternally?". BioEssays. 37 (1): 80–94. doi:10.1002/bies.201400110. PMC 4305268. PMID 25302405.
  3. ^ Li Q, Wang X, Zhang J, Yao J, Duan D (2015-08-27). "Maternal inheritance of organellar DNA demonstrated with DNA markers in crosses of Saccharina japonica (Laminariales, Phaeophyta)". Journal of Applied Phycology. 28 (3): 2019–2026. doi:10.1007/s10811-015-0687-1. S2CID 17827529.
  4. ^ Birky CW (December 2001). "The inheritance of genes in mitochondria and chloroplasts: laws, mechanisms, and models". Annual Review of Genetics. 35 (1): 125–48. doi:10.1146/annurev.genet.35.102401.090231. PMID 11700280.
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