Article Abstract:
The reductive evolution of the mitochondrial genome is correlated with its inability to support genetic recombination. Reductive evolution refers to the simplifications of animal mitochondrial translation systems such as the minimization of genes used by mitochondrial genomes to code for tRNA species. Codon reassignment confers selective advantage by reducing the undesirable effects of some mutational bias. Reductive evolution of mitochondrial genomes is driven by two forces affecting small populations: growth rate competition and Muller's ratchet.
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Article Abstract:
Damage of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in vertebrates and its potential repair may profitably be considered relative to repair pathways for eukaryotic and bacterial nuclear DNA. The repair in those genomes takes place in two combined steps that involve recognition of damage and building a repair patch. Some proteins may act in more than one repair pathway. Classes of DNA damage that are suitable for repair in mtDNA are reviewed with consideration given to enzymatic mechanisms and implications for aging and for mitochondrial disease in humans.
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Article Abstract:
The Seventh International Workshop on Hydroid Development, which was held in Tutzing, Germany, on Sep 22-25, 1997, discussed issues regarding the emergence of GLWamide peptides in all classes of cnidaria and the implication of the discoveries of more molecules influencing developmental processes. Among the the workshop's speakers were Thomas Bosch, Toshitaka Fujisawa, Ann Grens and Michael Walther.
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