Question

A newborn baby inherits mitochondria from its _______.

• A. mother only
• B. father only
• C. both, mother and father
• D. relatives

Answer 1

The correct option is A mother only

All of us inherit our mitochondria from our mothers. They are present in the haploid egg cell which fuses to form the zygote. The mitochondria of sperm cell do not enter the egg at the time of fertilization and thus remains outside. This is why a father cannot contribute his mitochondria to the offspring.