The mitochondrial genome: mutation, selection and recombination.

Within an individual, mitochondria must function in a range of tissue specific environments that are largely governed by expression of a particular suite of nuclear genes. Furthermore, mitochondrial proteins form large complexes with nuclear-encoded proteins to form the electron-transport system. These dynamics between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes have important implications in studies of within and among species genetic variation, and interpretation of disease phenotypes. Experimentally disrupting naturally occurring combinations of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes should provide insights into the coevolutionary dynamics among genomes.