Angela Huynh is an undergraduate studying biology at Georgia Tech. She has interned in the Storici Lab, examining the effect of sodium chloride on yeast cells and plans to conduct research on molecular biology throughout college.
Abstract: The mitochondrion is most notably known as the powerhouse of the cell, but malfunctions of this organelle have underscored its importance in a myriad of aspects. Mitochondrial disease has been linked to cancer, aging, and neurodegenerative illnesses, like dementia. Replacement of the mitochondrion and its genetic material has been the basis of mitochondrial therapy, but studies replacing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have displayed reversion to parental mtDNA. Little is known about the mechanisms underpinning this phenomenon, with it possibly occurring exclusively in humans. Consequently, the transfer of whole mitochondria appears a more viable option: it’s proven to be successfully moved between cells. However, the current methods for horizontal transfer have failed to address maintaining mitochondrial quality, preserving function over longer periods of time, and the conflicting results of uptake.