Do mitochondria transfer horizontally into the mammalian female germ line? Mitochondria, the energy producers in cells, are passed down only from mothers through their eggs. To understand how healthy

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Do mitochondria transfer horizontally into the mammalian female germ line? Mitochondria, the energy producers in cells, are passed down only from mothers through their eggs. To understand how healthy and viable an organism will be, it's important to know how these mitochondria are set up during egg development. About 1,000 mitochondria in the juvenile egg multiply to over 200,000 in the mature egg. Eggs grow in structures called follicles, surrounded by supporting cells that contain their own mitochondria. Supporting cells communicate with the egg through tiny tunnels. This research aims to understand whether the eggs receive mitochondria from these surrounding cells and how this influences oocyte metabolism and embryo development. This new knowledge will provide insights into animal breeding and human health.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3109 - Zoology. Lead: Dr Deepak Adhikari