What is the genetic material contained within mitochondria called?

• A. Nuclear DNA
• B. Mitochondrial DNA
• C. Chloroplast DNA
• D. Ribosomal RNA

Answer: (B)

The genetic material inside mitochondria is called mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondria carry their own small, circular genome separate from the cell’s nuclear DNA, encoding a subset of essential genes needed for the organelle’s function, including components of the electron transport chain and a few RNA genes like rRNA and tRNA. This mitochondrial genome is typically inherited from the mother, which is a handy detail in tracing lineages. This differs from nuclear DNA, which sits in the nucleus and is far larger, and from chloroplast DNA, which is found in chloroplasts of plants and algae. Ribosomal RNA is a type of RNA produced from genes, not the genome itself, so it isn’t the genetic material housed in mitochondria.