[The mitochondrial genome in medicine].

Analysis of the mitochondrial genome contributed towards the elucidation of a number of deviations-deletions or point mutations in mtDNA which are considered the cause of some pathological conditions, usually neuro- and myopathies. The distribution of defective mtDNA in the affected organism is uneven not only at the tissue or organ level but there are also marked differences between individual cells. Maternal heredity assumed for the mitochondrial genome is apparent only in some families, frequently also autosomal dominant heredity is found.