The scientific literature of a normally occurring plasmid genome, the mitochondrial genome, has indicated that the mutation rate of this closed circular DNA molecule is relatively high as compared to the nuclear or chromosomal genome. Taking this into consideration, studies are being conducted in collaboration with the FBI Forensic Science Research Group to determine whether these genetically inherited variations in the human mitochondrial genome are sufficient to establish ethnicity or even individuality for forensic applications. Additionally, the clinical literature reveals a number of diseases that display non-Mendelian maternal inheritance patterns which may involve the mitochondrial genome. Using sequencing technologies, studies on the primary structure of mitochondrial DNA from normal individuals and from patients with maternally inherited diseases have been initiated.
