[A mathematical model of the status of mitochondrial DNA for assessing the effectiveness of energy biosynthesis in mammalian cells].

A concept is advanced according to which the processes of ageing, non-specific pathology and malignant transformation are caused by mutations of mitochondrial DNA which controls protein synthesis of the oxidation phosphorylation system. A mathematical model is plotted for describing the efficiency of the system of energy supply of mammalian cells as a function of accumulation of mtDNA mutations. It is shown that at a definite degree of heterogeneity of mitochondria population malignant transformation proceeds. Explanations are presented of the existence of a latent period between the effect of cancerogenic agent and occurrence of tumour, mechanism of the realization of remote effects of chronic action of low intensity agents (these explanations are absent in modern theories of cancerogenesis and quantitative radiobiology).