Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Genetics and Genomics
Accumulation And Transmission Dynamics Of A Naturally-Occurring Mtdna Deletion In Caenorhabditis Briggsae, Jennifer Anne Sullins
Accumulation And Transmission Dynamics Of A Naturally-Occurring Mtdna Deletion In Caenorhabditis Briggsae, Jennifer Anne Sullins
Dissertations and Theses
Maintaining mitochondrial genome sequence integrity is essential for preserving normal mitochondrial function. Several human diseases have been associated with heteroplasmic mitochondrial genome mutations, but few genetic systems can simultaneously represent pathogenic mitochondrial genome evolution and inheritance. The nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae is one such model. Natural C. briggsae isolates are globally-distributed and phylogenetically grouped into three distinct clades, with isolates exhibiting varying levels of a large-scale mtDNA deletion, nad5∆. Furthermore, a small subset of clade II isolates exhibits putative compensatory mutations that may reduce the risk of deletion formation and accumulation in those populations. In this thesis, the author characterizes the …
Causes And Consequences Of Mitochondrial Variation In Caenorhabditid Nematodes, Kiley Ann Hicks
Causes And Consequences Of Mitochondrial Variation In Caenorhabditid Nematodes, Kiley Ann Hicks
Dissertations and Theses
Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that harbor their own stream-lined genome and generate much of the ATP necessary to sustain eukaryotic life via an electron transport chain (ETC). Because of the central role for mitochondria in organismal physiology, mitochondrial genetic and phenotypic variation can alter organismal fitness and affect population genetic and evolutionary outcomes. Despite the far-reaching relevance of mitochondria to evolutionary processes and human health, we lack a basic understanding of the causes and consequences of mitochondrial genetic and phenotypic variation. In this thesis, I quantified mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane potential (δΨM), and mitochondrial morphological traits within Caenorhabditis …