Maternal inheritance

Maternal inheritance refers to the passing of genetic information from a mother to her offspring through her mitochondria, which are the energy-producing structures within cells. Unlike most genes inherited from both parents, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited almost exclusively from the mother. This means that traits or genetic conditions linked to mitochondrial genes are passed down maternally. Since mitochondria are crucial for energy production, mutations in mtDNA can affect the health and development of the offspring. This form of inheritance highlights how maternal genetic material uniquely influences certain inherited characteristics and health conditions.