Human mitochondrial molecular clock
Mitochondria are tiny things in our cells that help us make energy to do things like move, breathe, and think. They have their own special kind of DNA that is different from the DNA in the rest of our cells. Scientists have found out that this DNA changes over time in a regular pattern, sort of like a ticking clock. They call it the “mitochondrial molecular clock.”
By studying these changes in the DNA, scientists can figure out how long ago humans and other animals shared a common ancestor. It’s like looking at the rings on a tree trunk to see how old it is. The mitochondrial molecular clock is very helpful because it can tell us things about our evolutionary history that we might not be able to figure out any other way.
By studying these changes in the DNA, scientists can figure out how long ago humans and other animals shared a common ancestor. It’s like looking at the rings on a tree trunk to see how old it is. The mitochondrial molecular clock is very helpful because it can tell us things about our evolutionary history that we might not be able to figure out any other way.