Chromosome (24) mtDNA - Lynn Margulis and the mitochondrial DNA

EXPLORE THE RI ADVENT CALENDAR: http://rigb.org.uk/advent

When we're born we usually inherit our father's surname but we also inherit a rather unique type of DNA from our mothers -- mitochondrial DNA. Aoife McLysaght explains how this special genetic link can be traced back to the origins of humans, and tells the story of the remarkable female scientist who figured out where our mitochondria came from in the first place.

The Ri is on Twitter:   / ri_science  
and Facebook:   / royalinstitution  
and Tumblr:   / ri-science  
Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-po...
Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter