What are the characteristics of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)?

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) exhibits distinct characteristics. It forms a circular structure, in contrast to the linear structure of nuclear DNA. Inheritance of mtDNA follows a maternal lineage, passed from mother to offspring. Additionally, mtDNA is present in high copy numbers within cells, with each mitochondrion containing multiple copies. Moreover, mtDNA has a high mutation rate compared to nuclear DNA. Lastly, mtDNA exhibits resilience against degradation processes.