Mitochondrial matrix
The cytosolic, intermembrane space, compartment has a water content of 3.8 μl/mg protein, while the mitochondrial matrix 0.8 μl/mg protein. It is not known how mitochondria maintain osmotic balance across the inner mitochondrial membrane, although the membrane contains aquaporins that are believed to be conduits for regulated water transport. Mitochondrial matrix has a pH of about 7.8. Mitochondrial DNA was discovered by Nash and Margit in 1963. One to many double stranded mainly circular DNA is present in mitochondrial matrix. Mitochondrial DNA is 1% of total DNA of a cell. It is rich in Guanine and Cytosine content. Mitochondria of mammals have 55s ribosomes.
Alan J. Cooper
Cooper is known as one of the pioneers of ancient DNA research, performing some of the first Polymerase chain reaction-based studies with Svante Paabo and Allan C. Wilson at UC Berkeley in 1989. In 2001, he used these methods to characterise the first complete genome sequences from an extinct species, mitochondrial genomes from two New Zealand moa.