Is a high mitochondrial gene percentage normal in heart, intestinal, or gastric tissues?

2026-06-18

Answer:
Yes. In tissues such as heart, intestine, and stomach, a relatively high proportion of mitochondrial gene expression is commonly observed due to high metabolic activity and energy demand.

In addition, these tissues may exhibit increased cellular turnover or stress responses, which can further elevate mitochondrial transcript levels. As a result, mitochondrial gene percentages exceeding commonly used thresholds (e.g., 20%) may be observed.

In these cases, cells should not be excluded solely based on mitochondrial gene percentage. Instead, filtering thresholds should be adjusted in the context of the specific tissue type and biological characteristics.

 

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