From whom is the mitochondrial genetic material passed on?

Mitochondrial genetic material is uniquely inherited exclusively from the mother. This is because mitochondria, which are the energy-producing organelles within cells, contain their own DNA (mtDNA). During fertilization, the sperm contributes nuclear DNA but does not typically transfer its mitochondria into the egg. As a result, the mitochondria present in the embryo are derived from the egg, and thus, all mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) comes from the mother.

This method of inheritance results in maternal lineage being traceable through mitochondrial DNA, and it significantly impacts studies in genetics and evolutionary biology. Since the mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited, it can serve as a useful tool for studying ancestry and population genetics.