Organelle heredity

Organelle heredity refers to the passing of genetic information through specific structures within a cell, called organelles, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts. Unlike nuclear DNA, which comes from both parents, organelle DNA is typically inherited from only one parent—often the mother—because these organelles are inherited through the egg cell. This form of heredity can influence traits like energy production and cellular function. Understanding organelle heredity helps explain certain inherited conditions and how some characteristics are passed down independently of the main DNA in the cell nucleus.