Fig. 1
Analysing mtDNA heteroplasmy in genetically distinct wild-derived mouse models. a Two mouse strains, LE and HB, were selected from a diverse set of mice captured across central Europe and sequenced. LE and HB display different degrees of mtDNA relatedness to lab mouse strain C57BL/6N. Mouse models with admixed mtDNA populations were created using ooplasm transfer, yielding founder females with a wide range of heteroplasmies of LE and HB mtDNA, all on a C57BL/6N nuclear background. b Offspring of these founders are used for heteroplasmy sampling. A reference tissue (tail or ear) is sampled from mice at 41 days after conception (black star – 21 days post-partum). For some mice (red star), single oocyte heteroplasmies are then measured at a later time toocyte. For others (blue star), mice are allowed to conceive (which occurs at time tconceive) and bear litters; the pups in these litters are sampled for heteroplasmy at age 21 days post-partum. We thus characterise heteroplasmy changes, relative to a reference tissue, in germline over organismal ageing (red star vs. black star), and over ageing and between generations (blue star vs. black star)
