Mitochondrial disease
I'm making a student presentation on mitoochondrial disease (15 minute lecture).
As I'm sitting here reading my articles, it seems to me that a lot of the dieases are "more prevalent in Northern Europe" (be it nuclear or mitochondrial mutations affecting mitochondrial function).
Coincidentally, I am in Norway, so maybe that's why this popped out. I haven't actually sat down and mapped the prevalences of the mutations. ;)
I was wondering if any of you guys know why this might be the case? Does it suggest that a specific group of people spread into the Scandinavias? Does it have anything to do with the Sami population (I know that some native american populations have a high incidende of specific mutations).
Examples are Leber's and Kjell's optic neurpathies, also PolG mutations leading to Alper's syndrome.
(x-posted to biology)