Definitions for "Mitochondrial DNA"
Keywords:  mtdna, organelle, maternal, genome, dna
a double-stranded loop of DNA found within the mitochondria. There can be as few as one or as many as several hundred mitochondria per cell, and each mitochondrion possesses between four and ten mtDNA loops.
the genetic material which occurs within mitochondria.
mtDNA - The circular DNA contained inside the mitochondria. The mitochondria are small organelles residing in animal cells which provide the power to the cell. They occupy about one-fifth of each cell. The mtDNA is passed from mother to her offspring (both sons and daughters), but only the daughter will pass it on. The DNA sequence can be read and compared against a standard sequence (the Cambridge Reference Sequence) and deep (i.e. several thousands of years), but very broad genealogies can be deduced. An mtDNA haplogroup can usually be assigned for any given sequence.