![](https://cdn.vanderbilt.edu/vu-web/medschool-wpcontent/sites/24/2018/08/25030919/Tsyba-Nikita-IGP_photo.jpg)
Nikita Tsyba
Nazarbayev University
Maulik Patel lab
I study mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). My project focuses on competition between the wild type and mutant mtDNA within the same organism. Specifically, I am interested why some mtDNA mutations consistently outcompete the wild type. It is intriguing how a mutation, which reduces mitochondrial fitness, can bypass mitochondrial quality control and outnumber wild type mtDNA.