Evolution of human mitochondrial DNA: a preliminary report.

Preliminary mapping of 346 cleavage sites in the mitochondrial genome of 100 human beings gives evidence that the genes for transfer RNA are highly variable, a result that points to the need for testing the accuracy of mitochondrial protein synthesis. In addition, the map comparisons imply that Australia has as much mtDNA diversity as any other area tested in the Old World. Assuming a model of strictly maternal inheritance, it appears possible to follow individual female lineages back hundreds of generations thereby providing human genetics with an important new measure of population heterogeneity. This measure, when compared with those available from protein and morphologic considerations, will help highlight particular groups of people whose mitochondria may increase greatly our understanding of the historical processes leading to the evolution of our own species.