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Mitochondria in Anthropology and Forensic Medicine

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Advances in Mitochondrial Medicine

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 942))

Abstract

Mitochondria’s role in crucial metabolic pathways is probably the first answer which comes to our minds for the question: what do these tiny organelles serve for? However, specific features of their DNA made them extremely useful also in the field of anthropology and forensics. MtDNA analyses became a milestone in the complex task of unraveling earliest human migrations. Evidence provided by these experiments left no doubts on modern humans origins pointing to Africa being our cradle. It also contributed to interpretation of putative ways of our dispersal around Asia and Americas thousands years ago. On the other hand, analysis of mtDNA is well established and valuable tool in forensic genetics. When other definitely more popular markers give no answer on identity, it is the time to employ information carried by mitochondria. This chapter summarizes not only current reports on the role of mitochondria in forensics and reconstruction of modern humans phylogeny, but also calls one’s attention to a broad range of difficulties and constraints associated with mtDNA analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum, Department of Molecular and Forensic Genetics, The Nicolaus Copernicus University, M. Curie-Skłodowskiej Str. 9, 85-094, Bydgoszcz, Poland

    Tomasz Grzybowski & Urszula Rogalla

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  1. Tomasz Grzybowski
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  2. Urszula Rogalla
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Correspondence to Tomasz Grzybowski .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical B, Catholic University, Largo A. Gemelli 8, Rome, 00168, Italy

    Roberto Scatena

  2. School of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical B, Catholic University, Largo A. Gemelli 8, Rome, 00168, Italy

    Patrizia Bottoni

  3. School of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical B, Catholic University, Largo A. Gemelli 8, Rome, 00168, Italy

    Bruno Giardina

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Grzybowski, T., Rogalla, U. (2012). Mitochondria in Anthropology and Forensic Medicine. In: Scatena, R., Bottoni, P., Giardina, B. (eds) Advances in Mitochondrial Medicine. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 942. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2869-1_20

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