NUMTs are fragmentary copies of the mitochondrial DNA that have been 'captured' by chromsomes.

A 'capture' does not occur very often, and it is possible the last one of any significant size
was in Chromosome 1  - see below.

By studying the number of mutations, as compared to the modern CRS, it is possible to make
an estimate of a NUMT's age.

As a 'rule of thumb' there are about 3 mutations/1000bps every million years.

So for the NUMTS detailed so far for Chromosomes 1,5. 11 & 14
the NUMT on Chromosome 1 is perhaps 4 million years old,
the NUMTs on Chromosome 5 perhaps 15 - 50 million years old
the NUMT on Chromosome 11 perhaps 20 million years old,
and the NUMT on Chromosome 14 perhaps 23 million years old.

There are many much older NUMTs - and for the moment the tRNAs that they cover
are to be found on the tRNA pages. 


At present there are pages here only for chromosomes 1, 5, 11 & 14

Click the appropriate link:

Chromosome 1
Chromosome 5
Chromosome 11
Chromosome 14