Mitochondria inherit its DNA from male parents in Chlamydomonas

Abstract

Chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited exclusively from the female parent in the plant and animal kingdoms. In isogamous green algae of the genus Chlamydomonas, however, chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) is inherited maternally while mtDNA is inherited paternally. To study the paternal inheritance of mtDNA in Chlamydomonas, markers were constructed to distinguish mtDNA origins, diploid cells were constructed, and genetic, molecular biological and microscopic analyses of mt+ and mt- mtDNA in zygotes were conducted. Here, the literature on mitochondrial inheritance in Chlamydomonas is reviewed.