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Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers:america's Stone Age Explorers

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Discover how mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited, and complete a pedigree chart by determining which individuals might share mtDNA with an unknown ancestor.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Use Dna Sequencing to Trace the Blue Whale's Evolutionary Tree

For Students 9th - 10th
Around 50 million years ago, the mammalian ancestor of today's whales returned to the ocean. In this genomics science fair project, you will use mitochondrial protein sequencing to trace the evolution of whales and identify their closest...
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eBook
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Inheritance of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Dna

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA, and why its inheritance does not follow Mendelian patterns.
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Unit Plan
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Dna From the Beginning: Higher Cells Have Ancient Dna

For Students 9th - 10th
Eukaryotic cells have separate DNA from mitochondria and chloroplasts which indicates that they were once primitive cells on their own. This multimedia article includes animations, pictures, video, biographical information, and quiz...
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Handout
Other

Mitochondrial Dna Adaptations in Human Population (2004)

For Students 9th - 10th
Hawks's research involves the use of mtDNA studies to hypothesize the ability to survive in certain climatic zones.
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Article
Smithsonian Institution

Encyclopedia Smithsonian: Paleoamerican Origins

For Students 9th - 10th
This detailed article from the Encyclopedia Smithsonian lays out the theories and evidence of who were the earliest inhabitants of North and South America. Beginning with the traditional theory of migration using the land bridge, and...
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Handout
Other

M.tevfik Dorak's: Mitochondrial Dna

For Students 9th - 10th
A high level discussion of the difference between mtDNA and nuclear DNA. Dables in the concept of using mtDNA to determine ancestry.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: What Is the Woolly Mammoth's Closest Living Relative?

For Students 9th - 10th
Although Woolly Mammoths have been extinct for thousands of years, scientists continue to learn more and more about this mighty animal. Some of the most exciting new research is being produced by looking at DNA extracted from the hair...
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Website
PBS

Tracing Ancestry With Mt Dna

For Students 9th - 10th
The most common mtDNA ancestor is an African woman named African "Eve" or Mitochondrial Eve. Good explanation of mtDNA versus nuclear DNA through visual interactive family tree.
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Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Biology: Powerhouse Rules: Mitochondria in Human Diseases

For Students 9th - 10th
Advanced course requires students to read and analyze primary research on mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA: how it can be damaged, repaired, mutated, and affected by disease.
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Article
Nature Research

Nature News and Comment: Ancient Migration: Coming to America

For Students 9th - 10th
A May, 2012 news feature from Nature magazine looks again at early migration theories that brought man across the Arctic to America. Was Clovis man really the earliest?
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Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: Mitochondria and Aging

For Students 9th - 10th
Following extensive research done by Dr. Douglas Wallace of the University of California, Irvine, it has been discovered that mitochondial genes affect the aging process. In an interview with the genetics scientist details are shared...