Which statement about human mitochondria is TRUE?
A) About 900 mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes.
B) Mitochondrial genes are inherited from both maternal and paternal sources.
C) rRNA and tRNA are imported from the cytoplasm and used in mitochondrial protein synthesis.
D) The mitochondrial genome codes for all proteins found in mitochondria.
E) The mitochondrial genome is not subject to mutations.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mitochondria have their own genome, but the majority of mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes. Specifically, about 900 mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes, while only 13 proteins are encoded by the mitochondrial genome. Maternal inheritance is also true, but it is not the only method of mitochondrial inheritance. rRNA and tRNA are imported from the cytoplasm, but they are used in mitochondrial RNA processing, not protein synthesis. The mitochondrial genome codes for only a small subset of mitochondrial proteins. Finally, the mitochondrial genome is subject to mutations, although at a higher rate than the nuclear genome due to the lack of repair mechanisms in mitochondria.

Which Statement About Human Mitochondria Is TRUE