Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Measurement of Mitochondrial Respiration in Human and Mouse Skeletal Muscle Fibers by High-Resolution Respirometry
Published on: October 4, 2024
Mitochondrial whims: metabolic rate, longevity and the rate of molecular evolution
Nicolas Galtier1, Richard W Jobson, Benoît Nabholz
1Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, CNRS UMR 5554, Université Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France. galtier@univ-montp2.fr
Abstract:
The evolutionary rate of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is highly variable across lineages in animals, and particularly in mammals. This variation has been interpreted as reflecting variations in metabolic rate: mitochondrial respiratory activity would tend to generate mutagenic agents, thus increasing the mutation rate. Here we review recent evidence suggesting that a direct, mechanical effect of species metabolic rate on mtDNA evolutionary rate is unlikely. We suggest that natural selection could act to reduce the (somatic) mtDNA mutation rate in long-lived species, in agreement with the mitochondrial theory of ageing.
Related Concept Videos
Mitochondria
Mitochondria
Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
Metabolic Rate
The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) measures the energy expended at rest.
Several factors influence the...
Mitochondrial Membranes
Mitochondrial Membranes
