consensus sequence was aligned and compared with the Cambridge Reference Sequence (rCRS, NCBI: NC_012920.1 106) (Andrews et al., 1999) using SEQSCAPE, version 2.5 software (Applera), which allows assembly of all 46 fragments belonging to the sample. Two independent operators verified sequences for phantom mutations by reading both strands. The remaining samples were sequenced in Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) as previously described (Wang et al., 2008). Furthermore, this study showed that mtDNA mutations previously associated with a number of degenerative disorders are present in ultranonagenarians and in some cases even at higher frequencies than controls. This suggests that mtDNA mutations can be positive or negative according to other factors, most likely environmental factors as well as other mitochondrial and genomic backgrounds.