How is a mitochondrial disease inherited?
The types of mitochondrial disease inheritance include: • Nuclear DNA (DNA contained in the nucleus of the cell) inheritance. Also called autosomal inheritance. — If this gene trait is recessive (one gene from each parent), often no other family members appear to be affected. There is a 25 percent chance of the trait occurring in other siblings. — If this gene trait is dominant (a gene from either parent), the disease often occurs in other family members. There is a 50 percent chance of the trait occurring in other siblings. • MtDNA (DNA contained in the mitochondria) inheritance. — There is a 100 percent chance of the trait occurring in other siblings, since all mitochondria are inherited from the mother, although symptoms might be either more or less severe.
