Mitochondrial DNA

Mitochondrial DNA is a molecule of circular DNA which is found in the mitochondrion. This DNA molecule codes for some of the proteins and RNA specific to the functioning of the mitochondrion.

The advantages of using mitochondrial DNA to analyse genetic diversity in our ancestors is the fact that mitochondria are only transmitted by the mother. This therefore allows populations to be monitored by comparing the degree of similarity of their mitochondrial DNA.