Through the study of mitochondrial disorders, scientists have suggested a link between the decline of mitochondrial function and aging. What process appears to be involved in this suspected phenomenon?

A) accumulation of sporadic mutations in the nuclear genome
B) decline of mutations in the nuclear genome
C) accumulation of mutations in the mtDNA
D) recombination of mtDNA and nuclear DNA
E) recombination among mtDNAs of different mitochondria