What is unique about the DNA found in mitochondria?

Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that it is exclusively inherited from the maternal parent. This is because, during fertilization, the mitochondria present in the sperm are typically destroyed once the sperm fertilizes the egg, leaving the mitochondria of the ovum as the sole contributor to the mitochondrial DNA of the offspring. This pattern of inheritance allows scientists to trace maternal lineages and is a key aspect of mitochondrial genetics.

The distinction of mitochondrial DNA from nuclear DNA is significant as well; while they both serve as critical carriers of genetic information, mitochondrial DNA is circular and much smaller in size compared to the linear strands of nuclear DNA. However, the essential point remains that mitochondrial DNA is not inherited from both parents, nor does it lack genetic information; it contains genes necessary for cellular energy production and other functions.