Question

The similarity of mitochondrial DNA among different human races suggests that the races:
(A) All arose from a single ancestral population.
(B) Are closely related to chimpanzees
(C) Share no recent common ancestor.
(D) Arose from distinct ancestral populations.

Answer 1

Hint: DNA is the main genetic material in animals and plants, it is present in the nucleus of the cell. Besides the nuclear genetic material is also present in mitochondria and chloroplast (as they are believed to be originated from prokaryotes)

Step by step solution:

There are hundreds to thousands of mitochondria per cell, and they are found in the fluid around the nucleus (the cytoplasm). Although mitochondria have a limited amount of their own DNA, the majority of DNA is contained in chromosomes within the nucleus. The term "mitochondrial DNA," or "mtDNA," refers to this genetic material. Of the 20,000–25,000 protein-coding genes in the human body, only 37 are found in this region. However, it differs noticeably from DNA in the nucleus. The mother is the only source of mitochondrial DNA, as opposed to nuclear DNA, which is inherited from both parents. Nobody fully comprehends why or how mitochondrial DNA from fathers is eliminated from cells. Nuclear DNA is inherited from both parents, whereas mitochondrial DNA is inherited solely from the mother. As a result, this can be quite useful in figuring out why a person has a particular disorder in their family. Sometimes, as opposed to from both parents, a sickness will be passed down through the mother's line.
The monogenesis scenario is supported by mitochondrial DNA analysis of a particularly well-preserved Neanderthal fossil in Europe, which reveals that the individual was considerably distinct from contemporary Europeans.
Hence, option (A) is correct.
Note: They are crucial in the control of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cellular metabolic regulation. A high copy number per cell, maternal inheritance, and a high mutation rate are just a few of the unique characteristics of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which have drawn the attention of researchers from a wide range of disciplines.