Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the meaning of lifeMitochondria are tiny structures located inside our cells that carry out the essential task of producing energy for the cell. They are found in all complex living things, and in that sense, they are fundamental for driving complex life on the planet. But there is much more to them than that. Mitochondria have their own DNA, with their own small collection of genes, separate from those in the cell nucleus. It is thought that they were once bacteria living independent lives. Their enslavement within the larger cell was a turning point in the evolution of life, enabling the development of complex organisms and, closely related, the origin of two sexes. Unlike the DNA in the nucleus, mitochondrial DNA is passed down exclusively (or almost exclusively) via the female line. That's why it has been used by some researchers to trace human ancestry daughter-to-mother, to 'Mitochondrial Eve'. Mitochondria give us important information about our evolutionary history. And that's not all. Mitochondrial genes mutate much faster than those in the nucleus because of the free radicals produced in their energy-generating role. This high mutation rate lies behind our ageing and certain congenital diseases. The latest research suggests that mitochondria play a key role in degenerative diseases such as cancer, through their involvement in precipitating cell suicide. Mitochondria, then, are pivotal in power, sex, and suicide. In this fascinating and thought-provoking book, Nick Lane brings together the latest research findings in this exciting field to show how our growing understanding of mitochondria is shedding light on how complex life evolved, why sex arose (why don't we just bud?), and why we age and die. This understanding is of fundamental importance, both in understanding how we and all other complex life came to be, but also in order to be able to control our own illnesses, and delay our degeneration and death. 'An extraordinary account of groundbreaking modern science... The book abounds with interesting and important ideas.' Mark Ridley, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford |
Contents
List of Illustrations | 8 |
The Origin of the Eukaryotic Cell | |
Proton Power and the Origin of Life | |
The Foundations of Complexity | |
Size and the Ramp of Ascending Complexity | |
The Troubled Birth of the Individual | |
Human PreHistory and the Nature | |
Why Mitochondria Kill us in the | |
Epilogue | |
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acid aerobic ageing ancestor animals antioxidants apoptosis archaea ATPase bacteria bacterium biology birds body cancer caspase cell death cell membrane cell wall cellular chloroplasts chromosomes complex cytochrome oxidase cytoplasm cytoskeleton damage depends electron flow encoded energetic energy enzymes eukaryotic cell evolution evolutionary evolved example exponent fermentation fractal free radicals free-radical leakage function gene transfer genetic genome glucose happens heat host cell human hydrogen hypothesis hydrogenosomes individual inherited larger levels lifespan lipids live mammals Margulis methanogens million mitochondria mitochondrial diseases mitochondrial DNA mitochondrial genes mitochondrial mutations mitochondrial theory molecular molecules multicellular organisms muscle natural selection nuclear genes nucleus oocytes organelles origin oxidized oxygen parasite phagocytosis population possible production prokaryotes proteins proton gradient pump protons recombination redox relationship replication respiration respiratory chains resting metabolic rate Rickettsia Sciences selfish sequence signal similar species structure survive tissue uncoupling University yeast