A somatic view of the genomic impact of mitochondrial endosymbiosis

by Rose M. Doss, Martin W. Breuss

The endosymbiosis of mitochondrial ancestors resulted in the transfer of genetic material on an evolutionary scale for eukaryotic species. A new study in PLOS Biology expands this to the genome of somatic cells within individuals and highlights its correlation with aging and disease. The endosymbiosis of mitochondrial ancestors resulted in the transfer of genetic material on an evolutionary scale for eukaryotic species. This Primer explores a new study in PLOS Biology which expands this to the genome of somatic cells within individuals and highlights its correlation with aging and disease.