Difference Between Mitochondrial DNA and Chloroplast DNA

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The major difference between mitochondrial DNA and Chloroplast DNA is in their location. The mitochondrial DNA is located in mitochondria of all Eukaryotic cells whereas Chloroplast DNA is located in plant chloroplast.

Difference Between Mitochondrial DNA and Chloroplast DNA

Difference between Mitochondrial DNA and Chloroplast DNA

  1. Mitochondrial DNA is the genetic material of mitochondria and Chloroplast DNA is the genomic material of chloroplast.
  2. Also called as mtDNA and cpDNA respectively.
  3. Human mtDNA contains 16596 base pairs whereas cpDNA contains 70000-200000 base pairs.
  4. Number of gene present in mitochondrial DNA is 37 whereas its 110-120 genes in Chloroplast DNA.
  5. Mitochondrial DNA is linear as well as circular double stranded but Chloroplast DNA is only circular and dsDNA.
  6. mtDNA encodes rRNA, tRNA and essential mitochondrial proteins. The Chloroplast genome codes for all the rRNA, tRNA as well as 50-100 different types of proteins.

Mitochondrial DNA vs Chloroplast DNA

Difference between mitochondrial DNA and Chloroplast DNA is represented below in tubular infographic chart in image.

Difference Between Mitochondrial DNA and Chloroplast DNA in tubular form

What is Mitochondria DNA or mtDNA ?

The genomic material of Mitochondria is known as mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA. It is Circular double stranded in nature.
  • Each mitochondria contain multiple mtDNA molecules. Thus the total amount of mtDNA in a cell depends on the number of mitochondria.
  • This DNA have been found that encode rRNAs, tRNAs and essential mitochondrial proteins.
  • Human mtDNA contains 16569 base pairs. 37 genes are present in mitochondrial DNA , 13 of these are involved in oxidative phosphorylation. The remaining genes provide instructions for making tRNA and rRNA molecules.
  • Human mtDNA encodes 2 rRNAs found in mitochondrial Ribosome, 22 tRNAs used thranslate mitochondrial mRNA.
  • This genomic FNA follows D-loop of replication mechanism.
  • Human mtDNA lacks introns and contains no long non coding sequences. But some plants and fungal mitochondrial gene contain introns, which must be removed by RNA splicing.
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What is Chloroplast DNA or cpDNA ?

  • Chloroplast genomes are usually circular molecules of double stranded DNA.
  • Also known as cpDNA. Sometimes it is also called as Plastosome, which refers to the genome of Chloroplast as well as other plastids.
  • cpDNA is relatively large and usually vary in length from 120-190 KB.
  • Like mitochondria chloroplast aslo contain multiple copies of cellular DNA. Typically 20-40 in higher plants.
  • The chloroplast DNA of land plants and green algae contain 110 different genes, which are classified into 2 main groups, genes involved in gene expression and those which related to photosynthesis.
  • cp DNA also follows D-Loop of replication mechanism.

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