Using mitochondrial DNA as a biosensor of early cancer development.

This article focuses on the use of mitochondrial DNA as a biosensor for early cancer development. Mitochondria can perform multiple cellular functions including energy production, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Each human cell contains hundreds to several thousand copies of the 16.5 kb human mitochondrial genome, which incidentally exhibits a maternal pattern of inheritance. This closed circular genome encodes 13 polypeptides of the respiratory chain complexes, as well as 22 transfer RNAs and two ribosomal RNAs used in mitochondrial protein synthesis.