Studies have discovered higher frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in different mitochondrial genes are associated with subnormozoospermia. However, the frequencies of SNPs in ND1 and ND2 are not unknown. The present research was aimed to determine the frequencies of SNPs in ND1 and ND2 genes of the mitochondrial genome in fertile and subfertile men and whether changes in codon usage was associated with fertility phenotypes. Total genomic DNA from 157 semen samples was extracted using the proteinase K/SDS digestion procedure, followed by phenol/chloroform purification and ethanol precipitation. ND1 and ND2 genes were amplified respectively from 80 and 92 DNA samples from different fertility groups. Each PCR product was sequenced to identify mutations. Codon change resulting from a nucleotide substitution was determined by comparison with a reference mtDNA sequence obtained from the NCBI database. The frequency of codon usage in the reference mtDNA was determined by the computer program MEGA version 2.1. Eleven synonymous nucleotide substitutions and two non-synonymous substitutions were found in this study. Four SNPs were previously characterized; all SNPs were homoplasmic. None of the SNPs were likely to affect the function of the proteins on the basis of the hydrophobicity plots or secondary structure predictions. Sixty two percent of synonymous mutations were found to change from a high to a low relative codon usage values; 37% of synonymous mutations changed from a low to a high relative usage value. Chi-square (χ²) test (χ²= 0.067 with 1 d.f.) showed that there was no significant difference at the 5% level between these changes. Thus, change in codon usage was not related to semen quality in men. Further, there were no statistically significant differences in the observed frequencies of SNPs of fertile and subfertile men. However, the sample size was small and this study was only focused on a single NZ Caucasian population. Further study including larger and more diverse population samples may provide further insight into the functional importance of codon usage and its relevance to fertility

Thesis (MScMed)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-101). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-74). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Auburn University. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 66-71).

Thesis (Ph.D.(Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 306-337)

Thesis (M.A. (Health Social Sciences))--Mahidol University, 2006. / LICL has E-Thesis 0012 ; please contact computer services.

Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of English, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-222).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-72).