Mendelian inheritance · USMLE Step 1

A disorder is passed from affected mothers to all children, but affected fathers do not transmit it to any offspring. This pattern most strongly suggests:

  1. Autosomal dominant inheritance
  2. Autosomal recessive inheritance
  3. Mitochondrial inheritance
  4. X-linked dominant inheritance
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Correct answer: Mitochondrial inheritance

Mitochondrial disorders follow strict maternal inheritance. Fathers do not transmit mitochondrial DNA. All children of an affected mother may inherit the mutation.

Difficulty: Medium Question 9 of 20

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