Mitochondrial inheritance is the
of mitochondrial DNA molecules
() to the offspring. All of
mtDNA an individual have come
from the , the maternal
grandmother, the great
grandmother and so , since
mitochondria are inherited the
cytoplasm of the cell (that later
constitutes cytoplasm of the
zygote).

are several genetic diseases
by mitochondrial inheritance,
like 's hereditary optic neuropathy,
that to loss ofthe central of
both eyes, and Kearns-Sayre
syndrome, a neuromuscular
that causes ophthalmoplegia and
fatigue.

Mitochondrial inheritance is excellent
means of genetic the
maternal lineage (just the Y
chromosome is excellent means of
study the paternal lineage).