Nature 251, 536 - 538 (11 October 1974); doi:10.1038/251536a0

Maternal inheritance of mammalian mitochondrial DNA

CLYDE A. HUTCHISON III, JOHN E. NEWBOLD, S. STEVEN POTTER & MARSHALL HALL EDGELL

Department of Bacteriology and Immunology and Curriculum in Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

EUKARYOTIC cells contain a class of cytoplasmic DNA molecules which are found only within the mitochondria, where they replicate and are transcribed (for a general review see ref. 1). This mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) constitutes the 'mitochondrial genome' and carries genetic information essential to mitochondrial function. In view of its extranuclear location, it is not surprising that inheritance of the mitochondrial genome is not governed by the same rules that apply to chromosomal genes. For fungi²⁻⁷ and amphibians⁸ there is evidence that the mitochondrial genome of an individual is derived solely from the maternal parent (in contrast to chromosomal genes, which are inherited biparentally). We present here evidence that the mitochondrial genome is inherited maternally in mammals too.

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