In a family pedigree for a mitochondrial disease, which of the following patterns is expected if the disease is due to an mtDNA mutation?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Both sexes affected, but only through affected mothers
Because mtDNA is maternally inherited, both sons and daughters of an affected mother can be affected; affected fathers do not transmit it because paternal mitochondria are excluded.
Keep practicing
More Mitochondrial inheritance questions
- What is “heteroplasmy” in the context of mitochondrial genetics?
- Which phenomenon explains why siblings of the same mother may have different severity of a mitochondrial disorder despite inheriting the sa…
- Which structural feature of human mtDNA distinguishes it from nuclear DNA?
- Why do mitochondrial diseases often affect tissues with high energy demand (like brain and muscle)?
- Which of the following statements about recombination in human mitochondrial DNA is most accurate?
- Which of the following is a possible mechanism by which paternal mitochondria are excluded from inheritance in humans?