Mitochondrial Gene Inheritance

Question 1

_____ are the “power plants” of cellular energy production.

Answer 1

Mitochondria

Question 2

Extranuclear DNA (only a small amount of total DNA) resides in the _____.

Answer 2

mitochondria

Question 3

True or false:
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and distribution is better regulated than in nuclear DNA.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

True or false:

There is no mechanism to ensure each new daughter cell receives an equal amount of mitochondria and mtDNA.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

True or false:

mtDNA has few, if any, DNA repair mechanisms resulting in being more prone to permanent mutations than nuclear DNA.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

mtDNA appears to have only coding regions (_____) for 37 genes and no noncoding regions (_____).

Answer 6

1. exons

2. introns

Question 7

The high-energy breakdown of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from hydrolysis of 2 high-energy bonds without the buildup of toxic wastes is _____ _____.

Answer 7

oxidative phosphorylation

Question 8

All mtDNA is _____ derived.

Answer 8

maternally

Question 9

What 3 systems are the majority of problems associated with mtDNA mutations and mitochondrial disease?

Answer 9

1. musculoskeletal
2. cardiovascular
3. neurological