maternal inheritance
[/məˈtɜːrnəl ɪnˈherɪtəns/]
nounfemininepl: maternal inheritances
herança materna
1. The transmission of genetic material or traits exclusively through the mother to offspring, particularly referring to mitochondrial DNA inheritance in biology and genetics
Mitochondrial diseases often follow a pattern of maternal inheritance since mitochondria are inherited from the mother.
As doenças mitocondriais frequentemente seguem um padrão de herança materna, já que as mitocôndrias são herdadas da mãe.
2. In legal and social contexts, the passing of property, titles, or family lineage through the maternal line rather than the paternal line
In some ancient cultures, maternal inheritance determined the child's social status and clan membership.
Em algumas culturas antigas, a herança materna determinava o status social da criança e sua pertença ao clã.
3. Cytoplasmic inheritance where traits are transmitted through the cytoplasm of the egg cell contributed by the mother
The chloroplast genes in plants typically show maternal inheritance patterns.
Os genes do cloroplasto em plantas normalmente mostram padrões de herança materna.
This term is primarily used in scientific, medical, and genetic contexts in both Brazil and Portugal. It gained prominence with advances in mitochondrial DNA research and is now a standard term in genetics education. In Brazil, it's commonly used in university biology and medical programs, particularly when discussing hereditary diseases. The concept also appears in anthropological and sociological studies when examining matrilineal societies and kinship systems.
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