Mitochondria are key organelles in eukaryotic cells, involved in energy production, cell signaling, and growth regulation. Discovered in 1857, they have a unique double-membrane structure and their own DNA, supporting the endosymbiotic theory of evolution. Mitochondrial dynamics, including fusion and fission, are crucial for cellular health, with dysfunctions linked to various diseases.
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Mitochondria are organelles found in most eukaryotic cells, characterized by a double-membrane structure and essential for aerobic respiration
Discovery of Mitochondria
Mitochondria were first observed by Albert von Kölliker in 1857
Naming of Mitochondria
The term "mitochondrion" was coined by Carl Benda in 1898
Popularization of Mitochondria
Philip Siekevitz in 1957 described mitochondria as the "powerhouse of the cell."
Mitochondria are present in most eukaryotic cells, but there are exceptions such as mature red blood cells and certain unicellular organisms with modified mitochondria
Mitochondria play important roles in cell signaling, differentiation, programmed cell death, and the regulation of the cell cycle and growth
The process of forming new mitochondria from pre-existing ones is crucial for cellular functions
Dysfunctions in mitochondrial processes are linked to various human diseases
Mitochondria have distinct compartments, including the outer membrane, intermembrane space, inner membrane, cristae, and matrix, each with specialized functions
The outer membrane of mitochondria contains proteins that facilitate the movement of molecules
The inner membrane is densely packed with proteins involved in energy production and is selectively permeable
The folds of the inner membrane, called cristae, increase the surface area for energy production
The matrix contains enzymes, ribosomes, tRNAs, and mtDNA essential for mitochondrial function and cellular metabolism
Mitochondria contain their own genetic material, mtDNA, which supports the endosymbiotic theory of their evolutionary origins
The endosymbiotic theory proposes that mitochondria evolved from a symbiotic relationship between an ancestral eukaryotic cell and a free-living prokaryote
The development of mitochondria enabled the efficient production of ATP using oxygen, a crucial step in the evolution of complex life forms
00
The primary energy molecule, ______, is produced by mitochondria through aerobic respiration.
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
01
Despite their prevalence in eukaryotic organisms, mature red blood cells in ______ lack mitochondria.
mammals
02
Typical mitochondrial cross-sectional area range
0.75 to 3 μm²
