Maternal Inheritance
Maternal inheritance is a genetic phenomenon where traits or characteristics are passed from mother to offspring through the maternal lineage. This type of inheritance primarily involves genes located in the mitochondria, the energy-producing structures within cells. Since mitochondria are inherited exclusively from the mother, any mutations or variations in mitochondrial DNA will be transmitted to all her children.
In contrast to Mendelian inheritance, which involves both parents contributing to the offspring's genetic makeup, maternal inheritance emphasizes the mother's role. This can lead to specific traits or disorders being more prevalent in females, as they inherit their mother's mitochondrial DNA, while males do not pass it on to their offspring.