This involved finding distances between genes, constructing trees, and applying basic statistics. This data was organized and converted to formats readable by molecular evolution software. Then, distance measures were obtained for pairwise comparisons among groups and plotted. This project provided exposure to evolution at the molecular level. Further, the experience expanded upon previous computer skills.
Mitochondria are the energy producing organelles of the cell.
Abnormally functioning mitochondria can lead to cell malfunction, or even cell death due to impairments in ATP synthesis. In nearly all organisms, mitochondria are maternally inherited. Mussels, however, pose a unique scenario. This allows us to study the interactions between two genetically different versions of the same organelle in a common cell. The D-loop regulates mitochondrial DNA synthesis and replication.