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Writer's pictureJoanne Hakaraia

The Mother Cell

Updated: Jul 31, 2020



I like to look at the universe through the lens of a microscope. When I can break down large chunks of matter into tiny pieces of molecules it helps me to make sense of the many dimensions that we live in from a holistic perspective as well as through a science perspective.

I put it down to my indigenous heritage collaborating with my European heritage in unison. This supports me to be able to walk in two worlds with full understanding without compromising each other.


There was a time not so long ago where I lived in a world of total confusion but now it is starting to make sense to me. It took me a while to learn how to unravel other peoples beliefs and it came with a great deal of hard-earned lessons and interesting events along the way. But unravel I did and it started me on the long quest of asking questions, lots of questions and sometimes the answers would come one or two years later. Thankfully, the answers come a lot faster because I’m asking the right questions and because I “let go” of owning what other people believed and searched for my own answers from within.

“While my European heritage were busy qualifying how the universe works with science my indigenous culture already understood the mechanics of the universe. “

I follow the guidance of my ancestors, then I do the best I can to look through another lens to understand science behind it.

Her scientific name is mitochondria and I have been calling her The Mother Cell because of who she is.


She is an organelle within our cells and she holds her own nucleus and DNA. Mitochondria are the power generating organelles inside our cells. Did you know that she has her own nucleus and her own DNA?

One tiny piece of our DNA is inherited only down the female line. It is called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) because it is held as a unique circular strand in small tubular packets known as mitochondria that function rather like batteries within the cell cytoplasm. Some molecular biologists say that, aeons ago, the mitochondrion was a free-living organism with its own DNA, and possessed the secret of generating lots of energy. It invaded single celled nucleated organisms and has stayed on ever since.

Most people know about the nuclei of cells and that the genetic inheritance from both parents are found in the nucleus. Humans have 46 chromosomes which they inherit from both their parents. Parts of both the DNA from the mother and father are put together in a recombination process that allows the children to have traits from both their mother and their Father. However, there is DNA located in other parts of the cell. Organelles called mitochondria, which provide energy for the cell in the form of ATP, also have DNA. This DNA, however, comes only from the mother and not the father.

So, our mitochondrial DNA is essentially identical to that of our mother. Mitochondrial DNA is transfered from mother to daughter, generation after generation. The mitochondrial DNA in the son, which he got from his mother, is a dead end street, since his mitochondrial DNA will not be used in his children.

The Mother Cell….she is pre-historic and scientists do not know her origin, yet she is part of what makes up our bodies. So this means that we have two nuclei in our bodies along with two DNA. We already know what one set of DNA does, science has provided us with this knowledge, but what about the mother cell? What is her role and why are we only just learning about her?

When you get a chance, reflect on her. She is the forgotten DNA…the forgotten mother cell. She is an ancestor and she is a really importance piece of the universe. My indigenous ancestors already knew about her.

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