title: Genetic novelties in mitochondrial genomes of multicellular animals.
abstract: Mitochondrial genomes of multicellular animals are mostly small, circular molecules in which 13 protein genes, two ribosomal-RNA genes and 22 transfer-RNA genes are closely packed. Substantial rearrangements of genes have only occurred between phylogenetically distant organisms. However, a wealth of genetic novelties are found among these genomes that include modified genetic codes, unorthodox translation initiation codons, and structurally modified RNA components of the mitochondrion's translation system.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003063:Cnidaria / Q000235:genetics; D003062:Codon; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012313:RNA