What is the pattern of inheritance of mitochondrial DNA?
A) It is passed from a mother to all of her children.
B) It is passed from a father to all of his sons.
C) It is passed from a mother only to her sons.
D) It is passed from a father to all of his daughters.
E) It is passed from a mother only to her daughters.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mitochondrial DNA is inherited maternally, which means it is passed from a mother to all of her children. This is because the egg cell contributes virtually all of the mitochondria to the developing embryo, while the sperm cell contributes very little. Therefore, all of the mitochondrial DNA present in a person's body is derived from their mother. Mitochondrial DNA does not undergo recombination like nuclear DNA, so it can provide a direct line of maternal ancestry tracing back through many generations.

What Is the Pattern of Inheritance of Mitochondrial DNA