Cells that make up a human being contain
two forms of DNA.
1. Nuclear DNA.
2. Mitochondrial DNA.
Nuclear DNA is found in the nucleus
and contains all the genes that make up who we are.
Nuclear DNA is the type of DNA that police use to
profile a person, and what DNA labs use to perform
a paternity test.
Mitochondrial DNA is a tiny circle
of DNA that is found inside small cell packets called
Mitochondria. Mitochondria known as the "power
house of the cell" are used to create energy
for the cells.
Sperm cells have mitochondria in the tail of the
sperm, and not in the head of the sperm. When the
sperm fertilizes a egg only the sperm head enters
the egg, and the tail is dropped off. Thus, children
will only recieve mitochondrial DNA from their mother.
Testing the sequence of mitochondrial DNA in siblings
will show if they are biologically related via the
maternal line. |
