Cytoplasmic or extranuclear inheritance refers to the transmission of traits through genetic material found in organelles outside the nucleus, primarily due to DNA in mitochondria and chloroplasts. This document outlines the history, features, types, and implications of cytoplasmic inheritance, including maternal inheritance, infectious inheritance, and maternal effects on phenotype. Key examples and mechanisms, such as mitochondrial inheritance and the endosymbiotic hypothesis, are also discussed.