Mitochondrial DNA Part A publishes original high-quality manuscripts on physical, chemical, and biochemical aspects of mtDNA and proteins involved in mtDNA metabolism, and/or interactions. Manuscripts on cytosolic and extracellular mtDNA, and on dysfunction caused by alterations in mtDNA integrity as well as methodological papers detailing novel approaches for mtDNA manipulation in vitro and in vivo are welcome. Descriptive papers on DNA sequences from mitochondrial genomes, and also analytical papers in the areas of population genetics, phylogenetics and human evolution that use mitochondrial DNA as a source of evidence for studies will be considered for publication. The Journal also considers manuscripts that examine population genetic and systematic theory that specifically address the use of mitochondrial DNA sequences, as well as papers that discuss the utility of mitochondrial DNA information in medical studies and in human evolutionary biology.