Heteroplasmy level

Heteroplasmy level refers to the proportion of different types of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within a cell or organism. Since mitochondria are the cell's energy producers, each contains its own DNA, which can vary. When some mitochondria have a normal DNA sequence and others have mutations, the heteroplasmy level measures how much of the mutated DNA is present compared to normal. A higher heteroplasmy level means more mutated mitochondria, which can impact cell function and contribute to mitochondrial diseases. This measure helps understand the severity of a mitochondrial disorder and how it might affect an individual.