Re: Mitochondrial DNA

Steve Clark (ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu)
Mon, 29 May 1995 22:56:17 -0500

>Gordon Simons wrote:
>"I have been told by folks with a lot more knowledge than I possess that
>this widely held opinion lacks adequate scientific support (i.e., hard
>evidence). My (very limited) understanding is that some experimental
>support for this thesis has been found for some mammals (mice?), but not,
>as yet, for humans. If this is wrong for humans, then highly tauted
>arguments linked to this "fact" are also in error. "
>
>I searched my database and found only one mention by a T.O. participant that
>sperm might occasionally carry mitochondria. He gave no documentation for
>the claim nor did he claim to be an authority. Does anyone on the reflector
>have any information on Gordon's question?

I remember that in mice, a transplantation antigen gene is inherited only
from the mother via mitochondrial DNA. This would seem to support only
maternal inheritance--but I would not stake my career on it without looking
further.

These experiments were done in the mid-to-late 80's by Kirsten
Fischer-Lindahl currently at the U Tx. Southwestern Medical School, Dallas.

Steve
____________________________________________________________________________
Steven S. Clark, Ph.D. Phone: (608) 263-9137
Associate Professor FAX: (608) 263-4226
Dept. of Human Oncology and email: ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu
UW Comprehensive Cancer Ctr
University of Wisconsin "It is the glory of God to conceal a
Madison, WI 53792 matter, but the glory of kings to
search out a matter."
____________________________________________________________________________