Problem
The scientific theory states this:
• Mitochondrial Eve originated from the Kalahari Desert in Africa.
• Mitochondria is passed from all offspring from the mother, and it is conserved; meaning, untouched. Therefore, we carry the mitochondria of our great, great, great....(and so on) grandmothers!
• Mitochondria is not known to be passed from the father (sorry guys!), however, there are studies still being conducted because some scientists believe that it is!
• Most of a cell's DNA is contained in its nucleus but mitochondria sit separately inside the cell and have their own DNA. This is because mitochondria are thought to have started as separate organisms, which entered early cells about 1.45 billion years ago and never left.
Given what you've read about the mitochondria, do you agree with this theory? Why are mitochondria passed on rather than other organelles? What makes them so special?