What distinguishes mitochondrial inheritance from nuclear inheritance?

Mitochondrial inheritance is characterized by the fact that mitochondrial DNA is inherited exclusively from the mother. This occurs because, during fertilization, the sperm contributes only nuclear DNA to the zygote while the egg provides both mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA. As a result, all offspring will inherit their mitochondria and associated traits solely from the maternal lineage.

In contrast, traits governed by nuclear DNA are influenced by both parents, as nuclear DNA is inherited from both the mother and the father. This fundamental difference in inheritance patterns forms the basis of the distinction between mitochondrial and nuclear inheritance. Mitochondrial traits do not show any paternal inheritance, which is a unique aspect of this type of genetic transmission.

Other options do not accurately reflect the concepts of mitochondrial and nuclear inheritance. The notion that nuclear traits can only be inherited from the father is incorrect, as both parents contribute to nuclear DNA. Also, mitochondrial traits are not expressed differently in males; rather, they are uniformly expressed regardless of the offspring's gender. Additionally, the dominance of nuclear traits over mitochondrial traits is not a relevant comparison, as both types of inheritance operate under different mechanisms and contexts.