Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Studying Mitochondrial Structure and Function in Drosophila Ovaries
Published on: January 4, 2017
Patterns of mitochondrial inheritance in the myxogastrid Didymium iridis
Margaret E Silliker1, Jeffery L Liles, Jason A Monroe
1Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, 2325 North Clifton Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60614-3207.
Abstract:
Seven strains of the Central American A1 mating series of Didymium iridis were crossed in all possible combinations. Individual plasmodia were isolated and grown to a stage where total DNA could be isolated for DNA-DNA hybridization with cloned mitochondrial DNA probes to determine the pattern of mitochondrial inheritance. Random, biased, and dominant patterns of uniparental mitochondrial inheritance were observed, as well as rare cases of biparental inheritance, depending on the particular parental strains mated. The diverse patterns suggest that the factors controlling mitochondrial inheritance in D. iridis are complex. Differences between trials of the same matings suggest that non-genetic factors may also influence mitochondrial inheritance.
Related Concept Videos
Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
Non-nuclear Inheritance
Mitochondrial Membranes
Mitochondrial Membranes
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...

