Why isn't mitochondrial DNA a unique identifier?

A. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited through the maternal lineage. All offspring inherit their mother's mitochondria, and therefore the same mitochondrial DNA. As a result, all family members that share a maternal lineage would have the same mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA can therefore be used to confirm or eliminate a person's relationship within a maternal line, but cannot be used to identify a specific individual.
B. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited through the maternal lineage. All female offspring inherit their mother's mitochondria, and therefore the same mitochondrial DNA. As a result, all female family members that share a maternal lineage would have the same mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA can therefore be used to confirm or eliminate a person's relationship within a maternal line, but cannot be used to identify a specific individual.
C. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited through the paternal lineage. All offspring inherit their father's mitochondria, and therefore the same mitochondrial DNA. As a result, all family members that share a paternal lineage would have the same mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA can therefore be used to confirm or eliminate a person's relationship within a paternal line, but cannot be used to identify a specific individual.


Answer: A

Biology & Microbiology

You might also like to view...

While they are simple relative to cells, viruses often have a very diverse collection of components. Which one of the following choices is LEAST likely to be found as part of a virus?  

A.  proteins with functional binding sites B.  membrane components C.  single-stranded DNA D.  ribosomes E.  glycoproteins Clarify Question · What is the key concept addressed by the question? · What type of thinking is required?   Gather Content · What do you already know about virus structure?   Choose Answer · Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?   Reflect on Process    · Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Biology & Microbiology

The largest oil spill in the United States was:

a. near Santa Barbara. b. at Valdez, Alaska. c. at the Deepwater Horizon rig. d. on the Hudson river, New York. e. in San Francisco Bay.

Biology & Microbiology

The organism Caenorhabditis elegans, a member of the phylum ____, is an important model organism

for studies of the genetic control of development.

a. Arthropoda b. Onychophora c. Nemertea d. Annelida e. Nematoda

Biology & Microbiology

The problem with the biological species concept is that it assumes that organisms regularly

A. outcross. B. undergo mitosis. C. reproduce asexually. D. inbreed.

Biology & Microbiology