How is extranuclear inheritance achieved?

How is extranuclear inheritance achieved?

• A. From both parents
• B. From the father
• C. Completely randomly
• D. From the mother

Answer: (D)

Extranuclear inheritance refers to the transmission of genetic material that occurs outside of the nucleus, primarily involving organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts. In many organisms, particularly animals, the mitochondria are inherited almost exclusively from the mother through the egg cell. This is because during fertilization, the sperm contributes very little to the cytoplasm of the zygote, which contains the mitochondria that are responsible for producing energy within cells. The genetic material within these organelles is separate from the nuclear DNA and is inherited in a manner that reflects maternal lineage. Thus, traits that are determined by genes located in mitochondrial DNA exhibit maternal inheritance patterns. This understanding is critical when studying inheritance patterns in genetics and biology, as it emphasizes the importance of maternal contributions to certain characteristics in offspring.

Extranuclear inheritance refers to the transmission of genetic material that occurs outside of the nucleus, primarily involving organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts. In many organisms, particularly animals, the mitochondria are inherited almost exclusively from the mother through the egg cell. This is because during fertilization, the sperm contributes very little to the cytoplasm of the zygote, which contains the mitochondria that are responsible for producing energy within cells.

The genetic material within these organelles is separate from the nuclear DNA and is inherited in a manner that reflects maternal lineage. Thus, traits that are determined by genes located in mitochondrial DNA exhibit maternal inheritance patterns. This understanding is critical when studying inheritance patterns in genetics and biology, as it emphasizes the importance of maternal contributions to certain characteristics in offspring.