Genetic Inheritance and Genetic Crosses (LC 2026) (Leaving Cert Biology): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
Non-Nuclear Inheritance
infoNote
Non-nuclear inheritance is the passing on of genes without the use of the nucleus.
- Most genes are located on chromosomes in the nucleus.
- However, some genes are found on DNA in mitochondria and chloroplasts.
- Sperm cells do not pass any mitochondria to the zygote.
- Mitochondria from the egg are passed to the zygote, meaning we inherit our mitochondria from our mothers (mitochondrial Eve).
- Genes on mitochondrial DNA are inherited only from the mother.