03/09/07

Looking at my own mtDNA test results, there is a point that might be made concerning polymorphisms/mutations.

Just because there is a transition/point mutation, doesn't mean it changes the coding result. It was pointed out to me that most of my mutations were synonymous; meaning that the change still coded for the same amino acid.

So, changes might be good for showing relationshhips, but have no effect on the resulting protein. Then too, most of the mutations were in non-coding regions; which are even better for showing relationships, since there is no selection for or against those mutations.

Phil Hotlen
Bellingham, WA
----------------------------------------