in Table. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact probability tests to assess frequency differences between aged and control groups for haplotypes, groups of related haplotypes, and polymorphisms. Multiple comparisons were taken into account by employing Bonferroni's correction. Phylogenetic analysis was also conducted.The mtDNA was analyzed using maximum parsimony criteria. This was performed using the eycluster of programs in the PHYLIP package and the Wagner method. First, the restriction matrix was bootstrapped using the seqboot program. Maximum parsimony trees were generated from this data using the default option in the mix program. Finally, a consensus tree was obtained using the CONSENSE program. The DNA samples were amplified using specifically designed primers for two regions of interest, and amplification for each region was performed again with modified cycling conditions. Amplification was verified by agarose gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide. Amplified DNA was then applied to a charged nylon membrane for hybridization and stringent washes, followed by detection of the hybridized DIG-labeled probes using chemiluminescence. Forty-six mtDNA haplotypes were identified, including five novel restriction sites. The total number of different genetic haplotypes identified on the basis of presence or absence of each of the four restriction sites was 33. Eleven of these haplotypes were unique to the cohort of samples, and 20 were unique to the aged sample group. However, no significant differences were found between male and female or control and aged sample groups. These results are hardly surprising given the very high number of variables with respect to haplotypes and low frequencies of majority haplotypes. The polymorphic nucleotide positions are italicized in Table 4.Sorry, but the text is unreadable and contains many errors. Please provide a readable version of the text for me to proofread and improve.A decrease was observed in the MMRONSOMfeADS frequencies of the haplotypes found in both the male and female groups in the control and aged JPN samples. The haplotypes were bootstrapped, and maximum parsimony trees were generated using the IELTSf programs in the Mee package (Version - 4.0). The eleven EM1 groups of related haplotypes formed are indicated by the branches of each Grp, and the haplogroup is highlighted by the square bracket. The same control and aged cohort of samples were examined for the two mtDNA nucleotide polymorphisms at positions 16519 and 12308 associated with longevity. In the case of the 16519 polymorphism, all individuals from the Irish population tested negative for this polymorphism. Individuals tested positive for the 12308 sequence using the RNA Mito+ specific probe. A cohort of Singaporean Chinese DNA samples was examined under the same conditions, and the 16519 polymorphism was observed in six samples, while no heteroplasmy was apparent. Although these results reflect those observed in the French study, no significant association was observed when statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact probability test. However, a more marked increase in the 16519 polymorphism was observed in females compared to males. Mitochondrial mutations caused by ROS-induced mtDNA mutations are a major contributor to cellular deterioration underlying the aging process. The possibility that certain inherited mtDNA polymorphisms may predispose certain individuals to be more resistant to age-related diseases and promote longevity is an attractive concept supported by recent studies in French, Japanese, and Italian centenarians. In this study, we assessed...Eg, there is a poly-A nucleotide polymorphism in the mtDNA region of 343 bp in the genome. This is found in the Irish aged population and compared to a younger control group. A total of 53 distinct genetic haplotypes were created within the Irish population. This high level of diversity was somewhat surprising, considering the relatively homogenous nature of the Irish community. It is interesting to note that some of these haplotypes were not present in both age groups, and a higher number was found in the aged samples compared to the control samples, indicating a slight increase in mtDNA variation with age. Considering the high number of variables (53 haplotypes) and their low frequencies in most cases, homogeneity was yet tallied. Experimental Gerontology groups failed to identify any significant associations. Phylogenetic analysis, however, identified two groups of related haplotypes encompassing all 53 haplotypes. Of these eleven groups, three displayed notable frequency differences between the two age groups. Through phylogenetic analysis, two distinct branches were shown to form the haplogroup: the first branch defined by the presence of the restriction site +34 and displays increased frequency in aged samples while the second branch defined by the absence of this site has decreased frequency in aged samples. Even after adjusting for significance using Bonferroni's correction, these frequency differences remained significant. In an Italian study, they tested for the defining restriction site of +33 for the haplogroup and it is therefore not possible to ascertain which branch their individuals assigned to predominantly belonged. The African haplogroup subgroup defined by this mutation was observed at a frequency of 1% in the Irish population examined but was restricted to the first branch of the haplogroup. Interestingly, this haplogroup has also been reported in the Italian population.(Quintana-Murci et al., 2004) stated that the frequency of the A12308G mutation, which is present in the haplogroup J, is considerably higher than that reported here for the OID population. Given the significance attributed to the J haplogroup in longevity, it would be of great interest to re-examine the individuals used in the study by De Benedictis et al. and establish whether they have this