his pedigree describes the inheritance of a mutation that af

his pedigree describes the inheritance of a mutation that affects mitochondria function. Which of the proteins below is most likely affected by this mutation?

Please note: circles refer to females, squares refer to males, colored circles/squares refer to affected individuals.

a. a component of the ATP Synthase that is encoded for by nuclear DNA

b. A regulator of glycolysis

c. A component of the ATP/ADP translocator that is encoded for by nuclear DNA

d. A component of Complex IV of the electron transport chain that is encoded for by mitochondrial DNA

e. A component of Complex IV of the electron transport chain that is encoded for by nuclear DNA

Solution

The option d is correct. In mitochondrial inheritance, the trait affects male and female both; as can see in all generations. If the mother has trait, that will transmits to her offspring but if male has and her partner doesn’t then no offspring will have the trait. That is quite interesting in mitochondrial inheritance. As in the generation II where male has but female has not, and the offspring have not; same as in III generation.