Homework Clinic

Science Clinic => Biology => Topic started by: luvbio on Jul 13, 2021

Title: Why is mitochondrial DNA often used in construction of phylogenetic trees?
Post by: luvbio on Jul 13, 2021

Why is mitochondrial DNA often used in construction of phylogenetic trees?

Title: Why is mitochondrial DNA often used in construction of phylogenetic trees?
Post by: LVPMS on Jul 13, 2021

Mitochondrial DNA evolves relatively quickly, so that if a "fast clock" is needed to estimate relatively short evolutionary time periods, mitochondrial DNA can be especially useful. Also, it is not subject to recombination, so the separate mitochondrial genetic lineages remain distinct with little mixing.