title: Human evolution and the mitochondrial genome.
abstract: The use of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) continues to dominate studies of human genetic variation and evolution. Recent work has re-affirmed the strict maternal inheritance of mtDNA, yielded new insights into the extent and nature of intra-individual variation, supported a recent African origin of human mtDNA, and amply demonstrated the utility of mtDNA in tracing population history and in analyses of ancient remains.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, University Park 16802, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoneking
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soodyall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D011153:Population
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial