Mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of maize have a 12-kilobase DNA sequence in common.
A 12-kilobase DNA sequence has been identified in the maize mitochondrial genome which is homologous to part of the inverted repeat of the maize chloroplast genome. In chloroplasts the sequence contains a 16S rRNA gene, and also the coding sequences for tRNAIle and tRNAVal. Mitochondrial DNA from the male-sterile cytoplasms of maize is altered in this region.