From whom are mitochondria typically inherited?

Mitochondria are typically inherited exclusively from the mother. This maternal inheritance occurs because, during fertilization, the sperm contributes very little cytoplasm to the zygote, which includes almost no mitochondria. Instead, the egg, or ovum, contains the majority of the cell's cytoplasmic contents, including thousands of mitochondria. As a result, the mitochondrial DNA is passed down from the mother to all her offspring, while the paternal contribution to mitochondria is negligible and usually discarded during the fertilization process.

This mode of inheritance is significant in the study of genetics and evolution, as it allows researchers to trace maternal lineages through mitochondrial DNA. It can also have implications in understanding certain genetic disorders associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, which are often linked to maternal inheritance patterns.