A phylogenetic analysis of 1125 global human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences permitted positioning of all nucleotide substitutions according to their order of occurrence. The relative frequency and amino acid conservation of internal branch replacement mutations was found to increase from tropical Africa to temperate Europe and arctic northeastern Siberia. Particularly highly conserved amino acid substitutions were found at the roots of multiple mtDNA lineages from higher latitudes. These same lineages correlate with increased propensity for energy deficiency diseases as well as longevity. Thus, specific mtDNA replacement mutations permitted our ancestors to adapt to more northern climates, and these same variants are influencing our health today.

The MITOMAP () data system for the human mitochondrial genome has been greatly enhanced by the addition of a navigable mutational mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogenetic tree of ∼3000 mtDNA coding region sequences plus expanded pathogenic mutation tables and a nuclear-mtDNA pseudogene (NUMT) data base. The phylogeny reconstructs the entire mutational history of the human mtDNA, thus defining the mtDNA haplogroups and differentiating ancient from recent mtDNA mutations. Pathogenic mutations are classified by both genotype and phenotype, and the NUMT sequences permits detection of spurious inclusion of pseudogene variants during mutation analysis. These additions position MITOMAP for the implementation of our automated mtDNA sequence analysis system, Mitomaster.

The Mitomap database of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) information has been an important compilation of mtDNA variation for researchers, clinicians, and genetic counselors for the past 25 years. The Mitomap protocol shows how users may look up human mitochondrial gene loci, search for public mitochondrial sequences, and browse or search for reported general population nucleotide variants as well as those reported in clinical disease. Within Mitomap is the powerful sequence analysis tool for human mitochondrial DNA, Mitomaster. The Mitomaster protocol gives step‐by‐step instructions showing how to submit sequences to identify nucleotide variants relative to the rCRS, determine the haplogroup, and view species conservation. User‐supplied sequences, GenBank identifiers, and single‐nucleotide variants may be analyzed. Curr. Protoc. Bioinform. 44:1.23.1‐1.23.26. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.