The disease Leber's optic neuropathy is caused by a mutation in a gene carried on mitochondrial DNA. What would be the phenotype of their first child if a man with this disease married a woman who did not have the disease? What would be the result if the wife had the disease and the husband did not?

the child's phenotype will be normal.

The child will acquire that disease.

Explanation:

The mitochondrial DNA is a small circular chromosome that exists in the mitochondria. The mitochondria is the power house of the cell and all its 37 DNA are essential for a normal function of the mitochondria. the mtdna is passed directly from the mother (through the egg cell) to the child either a male or female but the son cannot pass his mtdna to his child. Thus, if a man with this disease marries a woman not affected, the child's phenotype will be normal. But if the wife has the disease, this willl be passed from her to her child me it a male or female.