Basis of differentiation

Mitochondrial DNA

Chloroplast DNA 

Definition

Mitochondrial DNA is present in mitochondria 

Chloroplast DNA is present in chloroplasts of plant cells 

Size

Human mitochondrial DNA contains approximately 16569 base pairs 

Chloroplast DNA contains approximately 120,000 to 170,000 base pairs 

Number of genes

37

123 

Location

Present in the mitochondria of all eukaryotic cells

Present in the chloroplasts of all plant cells 

Shape of DNA

It is both circular and linear

It is primarily circular shaped (only linear shaped in rare cases)

Abbreviation

mtDNA

cpDNA or plastome

Function

The genes in the mitochondrial DNA play a role in oxidative phosphorylation for production of ATPs and in synthesis of proteins

The chloroplast genes play an important role in photosynthesis of plants