Hi guys!
How are you doing?
Since mitochondrial DNA mutates at a faster rate than nuclear DNA, I was wondering what the benefit of this was relating to this fact?
Also, why is mitochondrial DNA used when nuclear DNA can just be used?
Well because it mutates faster, therefore, it would be easier to make comparisons with other organisms - i.e. more differences as time progresses. (e.g. Would prove quite useful in determining relatedness for recently diverged species, since the differences would be quite prominent, unlike nuclear DNA, which would have less differences, making it harder to conclude anything.)
mtDNA is generally preferred compared to nuclear DNA because of the following features:
- Only inherited from mother
- Does not undergo recombination
- Not repaired by enzymes
Therefore, it can be highly effective in determining familial lineages. Also, since mtDNA doesn't undergo repair, therefore you can more accurately apply the molecular clock theory, compared with nuclear DNA which does undergo repair.