mitochondria

So other female from that time has surviving mitochondria.

I would appreciate it you'd elaborate on your first point about mitochondria here.

We're going to figure out exactly what all the moving bits do in our DNA and mitochondria and we'll be in a position to re-write it at will.

The mitochondrial genome only codes for a few proteins, but relies heavily on the nuclear genome for proteins.

According to the book, eucaryotic cell evolved by acquisition of mitochondria.

Energy generated by mitochondria allowed the eucaryotic cells to be much bigger than procaryotic ones, and to support multiple different organelles.

In other words, the mitochondria isn't just an isolated power plant; it's an integrated system that provides power in addition to logic, material processing, signaling, etc. Sorry to hear about your disorder, fortunately there are people researching these diseases.

Mitochondria have an under appreciated role in ion homeostasis, intermediary metabolism, and biosynthesis that seems to be the cause of many mitochondrial diseases.

Mitochondrial DNA between twins is expected to be almost identical, but you and I also have extremely similar mitochondria: since it doesn't recombine and rarely mutates.