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mitochondrial DNA

British  

noun

  1.  mtDNA.  DNA found in mitochondria, which contains some structural genes and is generally inherited only through the female line

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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The team detected several human mitochondrial DNA lineages, as well as a diverse microbiome made up of bacteria, fungi and salt-loving microorganisms.

From Science Daily Aug. 4, 2026

"You know, I can sample for a mite count, but I can't sample for mitochondrial DNA," Funkhouser said.

From Barron's May 19, 2026

To ensure accuracy, scientists analyzed mitochondrial DNA and used advanced bioinformatics tools to compare small segments of nuclear DNA.

From Science Daily Mar. 23, 2026

By tracing mitochondrial DNA, which is only passed on by women, Dr Cassidy found that most women in the community were related by blood dating back generations.

From BBC Jan. 15, 2025

In the late 1970s several scientists realized that an ethnic group’s mitochondrial DNA could provide clues to its ancestry.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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