Cross-species studies and ultra-sensitive sequencing approaches to investigate the effects of pollution and organelle dynamics on mitochondrial DNA mutagenesis

Scientific scrutiny of the organelle mitochondria continues to expand, as mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to many human diseases, ranging from Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetes, to many other metabolic diseases. Almost every eukaryotic organism harbors this vital organelle, which contains its own genome; remainders of its once prokaryotic ancestor. However, the processes that underlie the origins and transmission of mutations, or changes in the sequence of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA), are largely unknown. Here, Tess will describe how she has used key sentinel organisms as well as improved sequencing technologies to better understand the processes that regulate mtDNA mutagenesis, and how chemicals, such as the ubiquitous pollutant cadmium, affect mitochondrial genome stability.

Live Zoom presentation. Register to receive Zoom link at: https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJArdOmurjIuG9fQglBsNt2pzhguWVSueX9X