EVOLUTION OF THE PLANT MITOCHONDRIAL GENOME - DYNAMICS OF DUPLICATIONAND DELETION OF SEQUENCES

Several descriptive models have been proposed to explain the occurrenc e of deletion-duplication events in the plant mitochondrial genome. In order to investigate the dynamics of these events, we have simulated them using a computer model. The simulation shows that whatever the re combination rates between repeats, if a mitochondrial sequence becomes unnecessary for the proper function of mitochondria, this sequence ca n be deleted and another sequence can be duplicated in consequence. Fu rthermore, the model shows that the organization of the sequences with respect to the origin of replication has a great influence over the d ynamics of the deletion-duplication events.