Mitochondrial variability contributes strongly to noise in mRNA levels.

<p>Analytic and modified Gillespie simulation results for time evolution of mRNA levels with and without mitochondrial and volume variability. Bars show the mean and standard deviation of the corresponding distribution at a given time. Red () give simulated results without inherited variability. Black () give analytic results without inherited variability. Blue () give simulated results with mitochondrial and volume variability, displaying much greater variance in mRNA expression. Bars are slightly offset in the x-direction for clarity. The inset shows two example time series for both simulated cases.