Mitochondrial genome

The mitochondrial genome is the genetic material found in mitochondria, the energy-producing structures within our cells. Unlike the DNA located in the cell’s nucleus, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited solely from the mother. It contains instructions for making proteins essential for cellular energy production and plays a key role in how our cells generate energy. Mitochondrial DNA is much smaller than nuclear DNA and has a unique structure, often circular. Studies of mtDNA have been important in understanding evolution, ancestry, and certain genetic disorders.