A study concerning the evolution of mitochondrial DNA has allowed researchers to determine the frequency and pattern of heteroplasmy in the complete mitochondrial genome using a representative sample of the European population. This phenomenon, which indicates the presence of different mitochondrial DNA types in a cell or an individual, can be found in more than half of the population. The data indicates that many of the newly arising mutations found never reach fixation at the population level due to the effect of evolutionary mechanisms such as genetic drift or selection. The study may open a new perspective on medical, evolutionary and forensic research.

Source: New advances in the study of human mitochondrial DNA