10.2.3

Non-Nuclear Inheritance

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Non-Nuclear Inheritance

Some phenotypes result from non-nuclear inheritance, which includes mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA.

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Mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA

  • Mitochondria and chloroplasts contain their own DNA.
  • The DNA is circular and each mitochondrion or chloroplast has many copies of its DNA.
  • During meiosis, chloroplasts and mitochondria are randomly assigned to the gamete daughter cells.
    • This means the phenotypes controlled by mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA do not follow simple Mendelian inheritance patterns.
  • Mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA is only ever passed from one parent.
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Animals

  • Mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited in animals.
    • This means the mitochondria in a fertilized zygote come from the ovum and not the sperm.
  • Genetic disorders such a Kearns-Sayre syndrome are caused by mitochondrial mutations.
    • Such syndromes are transmitted from affected mothers to any offspring.
    • Paternal mitochondrial mutations are not passed on.
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Plants

  • Mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA is also maternally inherited in plants.
    • Mitochondria and chloroplasts are transmitted in the ovule and not the pollen.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

2Molecular Biology

3Genetics

4Ecology

5Evolution & Biodiversity

6Human Physiology

7AHL: Nucleic Acids

8AHL: Metabolism, Cell Respiration & Photosynthesis

9AHL: Plant Biology

9.1Transport in the Xylem of Plants

9.2Transport in the Phloem of Plants

9.3Growth in Plants

10AHL: Genetics & Evolution

11AHL: Animal Physiology

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