Nuclear DNA is found in every cell of the person’s body. Also all mitochondrial diseases in a human being is associated from the maternal side through inheritance. Both these DNAs are double stranded. Excellent information in a simple and easy to comprehend language. The nuclear genome is much larger, with 20,000-25,000 genes coding for all the proteins required for its function, which also includes mitochondrial genes. Keep it up. Genome sizes → Both mtDNA and nDNA have their own genomes but are very different sizes. Nuclear DNA and all the genes inside it are responsible for the structure, built and features of a particular human being as well responsible for the nature and traits of that person. Nuclear DNA has most of the genetic information a person’s body needs while mitochondrial DNA contains only information needed for the mitochondria to work and also depends on the nuclear DNA for some assistance. There is no need to resubmit your comment. In humans, the size of the mitochondrial genome consists of only 1 chromosome that contains 16,569 DNA base pairs. the nuclear genome is made of 3.3 billion DNA base pairs, whereas the mitochondrial genome is built of 16,569 DNA base pairs; the nuclear genome is … Due to the higher mutation rate, mtDNA evolves much faster than nuclear genetic markers11. To compare these two kinds of DNAs first we need to understand what a DNA is. Transcription process → Gene transcription within mtDNA is polycistronic, meaning an mRNA is formed with sequences that code for many proteins. Please add difference.wiki to your ad blocking whitelist or disable your adblocking software. It is basically the hereditary material in all organisms which is inherited from the parents of that organism. These chromosomes are inherited from the mother and father both, twenty three of these come from your mother and twenty three from your father. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) carries genetic information that is used as a set of instructions for growth and development, as well as the ultimate functioning and reproduction of living organisms. During cell division, chromosomes are duplicated through the process of DNA replication, as long as each cell has its own complete set of chromosomes. Genome inheritance → Nuclear DNA is diploid, meaning it inherits DNA both maternally and paternally (23 chromosomes from each of the mother and father). However, they can encode for 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs, which nDNA lacks the capability to do. Gene encoding → The singular mtDNA chromosome is much shorter than the nuclear chromosomes. Translation process → The translation process between nDNA and mtDNA can vary. The nuclear genome is significantly larger than the mitochondrial, consisting of 46 chromosomes that contain 3.3 billion nucleotides. Nuclear DNA is located within the nucleus of every eukaryotic cell (with some exceptions such as nerve and red blood cells) and usually only has two copies per somatic cell5. and updated on April 12, 2018, Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects, Difference between Mitochondrial DNA and Nuclear DNA, Difference between Manta Ray and Stingray, Differences between Catabolism and Anabolism, Difference Between Homologous Chromosomes and Sister Chromatids, Difference Between Microevolution and Macroevolution, Difference Between Bioburden and Microbial Limit Test, Difference Between Background Extinction and Mass Extinction, Difference Between Centrosome and Centromere, Difference Between Follicular Thyroid Cancer and Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Difference Between Health Promotion and Health Education, Difference Between Vitamin D and Vitamin D3, Difference Between LCD and LED Televisions, Difference Between Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, Difference Between Civil War and Revolution, 46 chromosomes with 3.3 billion base pairs, Some codons do not follow universal codon pattern. Nuclear DNA is longer as compared to the mitochondrial DNA which is shorter. The chromosomes of the nuclear DNA are longer as compared to the chromosomes of the mitochondrial DNA which are shorter. Each individual nucleotide is composed of one of four nitrogen-containing nucleobases – Cytosine (C), Guanine (G), Adenine (A) or Thymine (T) – along with a sugar called deoxyribose and a phosphate group. However, as mtDNA is only inherited from the mother, there is no alteration during transmission, meaning any DNA changes come from mutations. When people, who are studying it, get confused about the same kind of terms it can get very irritating. In Humans, the mitochondrial genome size is 16,569 DNA base pairs. Structure → Both types of DNA are double stranded. A network of relationships among these sequences is then constructed which provides an estimate of the relationships among either the individuals or species from which the mtDNA was taken. This involves using small amounts of nDNA to make copies of targeted regions called short tandem repeats (STRs) on the molecule13. Mitochondrial DNA or mt DNA is double stranded and circular. Almost every cell in a human beings body has the same DNA. • Mitochondrial DNA is found inside the mitochondria while nuclear DNA is found inside the nucleus of a cell. The mutation rate in mtDNA is much higher than in nDNA, which is normally less than 0.3%10. On the other hand the mitochondrial DNA is found in the mitochondria of the cell only and it consists of only one chromosome which is only inherited by the mother. Cite Different people have different features and characteristics which are inherits by the parents. External Customers. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail, Written by : Alexander Hammond. Human beings have forty six chromosomes in one cell which are arranged in pairs. Humans contain between hundreds to thousands copies of mitochondrial DNA per cell. Mitochondrial DNA is found only in the mitochondria of the cell. It contains 36 genes that encode for 37 proteins, all of which are specific proteins used in the metabolic processes mitochondria undertake (such as citrate acid cycle, ATP synthesis and fatty acid metabolism). Mitochondrial DNA is circular in shape and has only one chromosome. Because mtDNA has a greater number of copies per cell than nDNA, it has the ability to identify much smaller, damaged or degraded biological samples14. Being located in different regions of the eukaryotic cell, there are a number of fundamental differences between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA). The greater number of mtDNA copies per cell than nDNA, also makes it is possible to obtain a DNA match with a living relative, even if numerous maternal generations separate them from the skeletal remains of a relative.