Random genetic drift in the female germline explains the rapid segregation of mammalian mitochondrial DNA
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is maternally inherited in mammals. Despite the high genome copy number in mature oocytes (10(5)) and the relatively small number of cell divisions in the female germline, mtDNA sequence variants segregate rapidly between generations. To investigate the molecular basis for this apparent paradox we created lines of heteroplasmic mice carrying two mtDNA genotypes. We show that the pattern of segregation can be explained by random genetic drift occurring in early oogenesis, and that the effective number of segregating units for mtDNA is approximately 200 in mice. These results provide the basis for estimating recurrence risks for mitochondrial disease due to pathogenic mtDNA mutations and for predicting the rate of fixation of neutral mtDNA mutations in maternal lineages.
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The first heteroplasmic mice were generated by cytoplasmic fusion of two normal mouse strains carrying distinct haplotypes.
“The first heteroplasmic mice were generated by cytoplasmic fusion of two normal mouse strains carrying distinct haplotypes [74,169].”
From Mitochondrial DNA mutations and human disease (2010) · cites this paper as [74]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Jenuth, J. P., Peterson, A. C., Fu, K., & Shoubridge, E. A.
- Affiliations
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Shoubridge, Eric A.
- Venue
- Nature Genetics
- Published
- 1996-10
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 146-151
- ISSN
- 1061-4036 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1718
- OpenAlex
- W2048286421
- Cited by
- 591
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 8.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Genetics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
- Keywords
- mitochondrial DNA, genetic drift, female germline, oogenesis, heteroplasmy, segregation, maternal inheritance, mitochondrial disease, recurrence risk, mice
- MeSH terms
- Animals, DNA, Mitochondrial, Female, Gene Frequency, Genotype, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Mice, Inbred NZB, Oocytes, Oogenesis, Oogonia, Gene Dosage, Founder Effect, Mice
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