Mitochondrial inheritance
Mitochondrial Inheritance
Mitochondrial inheritance (pronunciation: mi-toh-kon-dree-al in-her-it-ans) is a type of non-Mendelian inheritance pattern that involves the transmission of genetic material through the mitochondria of a cell.
Etymology
The term "Mitochondrial inheritance" is derived from the Greek words "mitos" meaning thread, and "chondrion" meaning granule, referring to the thread-like granules that mitochondria resemble. "Inheritance" is derived from the Latin word "inheritare" which means to come into possession of an heirloom.
Definition
Mitochondrial inheritance refers to the process where the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is passed from a mother to her offspring. Unlike nuclear DNA, which is inherited from both parents and recombined in offspring, mtDNA is inherited solely from the mother. This is because the mitochondria in mammalian sperm are usually destroyed by the egg cell after fertilization.
Related Terms
- Maternal inheritance: This is another term for mitochondrial inheritance, as the mitochondria and its DNA are passed down from the mother to the offspring.
- Mitochondrial disease: These are disorders that occur when the mitochondria fail to produce enough energy for the cell or organ to function properly.
- Mitochondrial DNA: This is the small amount of DNA that is found within mitochondria. In humans, mtDNA represents about 1% of the total DNA but is critically important for normal cell function.
- Nuclear DNA: This is the DNA contained within a cell nucleus. It is inherited from both parents and recombined in offspring.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mitochondrial inheritance
- Wikipedia's article - Mitochondrial inheritance
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