Question

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how is mitochondrial dna used in science?
mtdna is used to match nuclear and mitochondrial dna to victims of a crime scene.
mtdna is used to connect dna samples to the mother in missing - person cases.
mtdna is used to convict criminals by connecting the dna found at a crime scene to relatives on the father’s side.
endosymbiotic theory

Explanation:

To determine the correct statement about the use of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in science, we analyze each option:

1. First Option Analysis:

mtDNA is inherited maternally, so it cannot be used to match nuclear (inherited from both parents) and mitochondrial DNA to crime victims. This is incorrect.

1. Second Option Analysis:

mtDNA is passed down from mother to child. In missing - person cases, if we have a DNA sample from a mother (or maternal relatives), we can use mtDNA to connect it to the missing person (since the missing person would inherit the mother’s mtDNA). This is a valid use of mtDNA.

1. Third Option Analysis:

mtDNA is maternally inherited, so it cannot be used to connect crime - scene DNA to relatives on the father’s side (as the father’s side does not pass down mtDNA in the same maternal line). This is incorrect.

• Analyzed each option based on mtDNA's maternal inheritance. First and third options are invalid due to mtDNA inheritance rules. Second option is valid as mtDNA connects to maternal lineage in missing - person cases.

Answer:

mtDNA is used to connect DNA samples to the mother in missing - person cases.