What percentage of genes are found in mitochondrial DNA?
All of the human genome is located in the nucleus. However, some important genes are encoded in the mitochondrial genome. Recall that the electron transport chain is located in the mitochondrial inner membrane. The transport chain is made up of various proteins that consist of multiple subunits that come together. Some of these subunits are encoded in the mitochondrial genome and are transcribed and translated inside the mito. These mitochondrially-produced subunits then “meet up” with subunits produced from nuclear genes in the membrane to assemble into a fully functional electrol transport chain. The number of functioning genes in the mitochondria depends on the type of organism.
