Heteroplasmy
Mitochondria contain multiple copies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). When all copies are identical, the mitochondria is said to exist in “homoplasmy”. Sometimes, a copy of mtDNA has a variant (e.g. a C instead of a T). When variant mtDNA co-exists with wildtype mtDNA, the mitochondrion exists in a state known as “heteroplasmy”. If the level […]