Medical genetics: mitochondrial inheritance: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Medical genetics: mitochondrial inheritance

Sample item

A young man has sudden painless central visual loss in one eye. In his family, affected women transmit the disease to children of both sexes, but affected men never do. Which inheritance pattern fits?

AAutosomal dominantBX-linked recessiveCMitochondrialDAutosomal recessive

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Mitochondrial

Mitochondria are inherited from the oocyte cytoplasm, so a mother transmits her mitochondrial DNA to all her children while a father transmits none. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy is the classic example of this maternal pattern.

Option by option

A. Autosomal dominant
Autosomal dominant disease can be transmitted by either sex.
B. X-linked recessive
In X-linked recessive disease, affected men pass the gene to all daughters.
C. Mitochondrial (correct)
Correct. Transmission only through the mother to all offspring indicates mitochondrial inheritance.
D. Autosomal recessive
Autosomal recessive disease usually skips generations and affects siblings, not the maternal line.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is C, Mitochondrial. Mitochondria are inherited from the oocyte cytoplasm, so a mother transmits her mitochondrial DNA to all her children while a father transmits none.

Why is "Autosomal dominant" not the answer?

Autosomal dominant disease can be transmitted by either sex.

Why is "X-linked recessive" not the answer?

In X-linked recessive disease, affected men pass the gene to all daughters.

Why is "Autosomal recessive" not the answer?

Autosomal recessive disease usually skips generations and affects siblings, not the maternal line.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical genetics: mitochondrial inheritance in Anatomy. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy is the classic example of this maternal pattern.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Medical genetics: mitochondrial inheritance?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.