Maternal Inheritance

Thanks Mom!

Mitochondria

Inheriting mitochondria

• Only from the mother

Mitochondrial DNA

• No chromosomes

• No histones

• Circular DNA

• No repair enzymes

• Mutates more frequently

Mitochondrial diseases

• Defects in energy metabolism

• Lebers hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON)

• Mitochondrial myopathy encephalopathy lactin acidosis syndrome (MELAS)

• Ooplasmic transfer• Healthy mitochondria added to an

infertile woman’s oocyte (30 children born)

Heteroplasmy

• Possibility that mutations exist in some mitochondria and not others within the same cell.

• Gametes may or may not have mutated mitochondria, harder to track the trait within families

• Variable expressivity

Tracking maternal DNA