Mitochondria Essay

Mitochondria are small organelles found in eukaryotic cells which respire aerobically. They are responsible for generating energy from food to ‘power the cell’. They contain their own DNA, reproducing by dividing in 2. As they closely resemble bacteria, it gave the idea that they were derived from bacteria (which were engulfed by ancestors of the eukaryotes we know today). This idea has since been confirmed from further investigations, and it is now widely accepted. (Alberts et al., 2010a)

Mitochondria, dubbed the ‘powerhouse of the cell’, are a type of organelle present in most human cells. Their primary function is to generate Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s principal source of chemical energy. Unlike most other organelles, mitochondria store their own set of genetic material, distinct from the DNA situated in a cell’s nucleus. Although this ‘mitochondrial genome’ represents only 0.1% of a cell’s genetic information, it often plays a significant role in development.

Mitochondria are important because they allow our bodies to function by converting oxygen that we breathe in and the nutrients we ingest from food to energy we can use in the form of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate). This is done through aerobic respiration (requires oxygen), without the many mitochondria we have in our body we would not have sufficient energy from anaerobic respiration for our metabolic requirements. (Link its importance to its other functions- what would happen if it could not perform its functions e.g. lack of regulation of apoptosis and cancer- links to essays overall argument).

Mitochondria are rod-shaped organelles that can be considered the power generators of a cell. They convert oxygen and nutrients into ATP. In turn, ATP powers most of the cell’s chemical reactions that allow the cell to function. Without mitochondria, certain cells would not be able to work and do their job. The cells would not be able to obtain enough energy to survive. A cell’s mitochondria relates to workers because they supply the cell with energy, just like how workers supply their energy to do their job. The mitochondria in a cell are responsible for providing energy so the cell can function, like how workers do certain tasks to keep the business thriving. Mitochondria are found in both plant and animal cells. However, they are found in

The article Replacing the cell’s power plants by Eric A. Shoubridge discusses the DNA found within mitochondria. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) differs from nuclear DNA as it is inherited from only the mother. However, the mtDNA can also contain mutations which, similar to the nuclear DNA, have the potential to cause severe complications. Due to the mtDNA being restricted to the mitochondria multiple approaches have been developed in effort to reduce or prevent the amount and effect of mtDNA mutations.

Mitochondrial DNA is just a small part of the genome. It is a double-stranded circular DNA molecule encoding sequences of 13 polypeptides, which are critical to respiration, as well as 24 RNA. MtDNA consists of 16,569 nucleotide pairs, 44 percent of MtDNR are G+C. DNA chains differ from each other in nucleotide composition: in the heavy chain, there is relatively more guanine, while in the

Many physiological processes in the cells require the participation of both intra- and extra-mitochondrial enzyme reactions. A link between mitochondria and cytosol is provided by a group of proteins known as the mitochondrial carriers (MCs) family (Arco & Satrustegui, 2005; F. Palmieri, 2004). MCs comprise a family of about 40-50 proteins, depending on the organism, and provide the main communication between mitochondrial matrix and extra-mitochondrial spaces by transporting a wide range of metabolites, nucleotides and cofactors.

Mitochondria: a word many people have used in their vocabulary, but one that most people fail to understand. Why is the mitochondria famously known as the powerhouse of the cell? It is because of its energy production. The mitochondria is responsible for the large majority of the production of ATP(adenosine triphosphate for those who actually care). ATP is the molecule that provides energy for most of the body’s functions. This organelle also aids in the processes of cellular differentiation(the changing of one cell type to another) and cell death(literal programmed, predetermined death of a cell). The mitochondria is made up of several different regions that help the organelle to function properly. These regions include the outer membrane,

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of every cell in our bodies. According to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, the mitochondrial produce most of the energy for the body (United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation). When this process is interrupted or does not take place then cellular damage begins to occur (United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation). Rolf Luft, Lars Ernster, and Bjorn Afzelius are credited with the first diagnosis of mitochondrial disease via muscle biopsy in 1962 (DiMauro, 2011). Succinctly, it is a “defect in the respiratory chain (DiMauro, 2011)”. Since mitochondria are in every cell in the body, and cells are specialized to the organ system to which they belong, the disease will manifest different symptoms in different individuals based on the organ system(s) affected (United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation). Symptoms can be present from every organ system, however, depending upon the actual genetic encoding affecting the mitochondrial can determine which disease classification a patient may fall within (DiMauro, 2011), (United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation).

The mitochondrion is known as the powerhouse of the cell. It is similar to the engine in a car. This organelle is known for giving the cell energy to function properly. The mitochondrion is the place where cellular respiration and many other processes, including protein translation, autophagy and oxidative phosphorylation occur. The damage of this vital organ would be distressing to the body. When the mitochondrion fails to produce enough energy or ATP (andesine triphosphate) to support the cell’s functions, this phenomenon is known as mitochondrial disease. Due to failure of critical physiological processes, a person inflicted with mitochondrial disease will have loose muscles, coordination issues, involuntary movement of the eyes, and the inability to exercise. Additionally, the individual will have poor growth and even neurological problems. Though quite rare, the disease is extremely dangerous.

carboxyl terminus is necessary to recruit mitochondria, and the N terminus is anchored to the

Mutations in 12 of the 13 polypeptide-encoding mitochondrial genes have been found to cause human disease.

The role of DNA in cells is to store genetic information for extended periods of time. DNA are long strands that contain genetic code, or instructions, for the development and functions of living things. DNA tells cells what to do and how to function, they are found in the nucleus of a cell. The role of mitochondria in cells is to produce and supply the cell with energy, so it can complete its function. They can be found floating around in the cytoplasm of the cell. Mitochondria are able to duplicate or reproduce themselves without interfering with the replication of the cell and vise versa. The value of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is to supply cells with energy by absorbing the sugars that were broken down from food. Mitochondrial DNA contains

Both bacterial nucleoid and eukaryotic nucleus are area where genetic information such as DNA or RNA is store. However, the bacterial nucleoid is not a membrane bound organelle like the eukaryotic nucleus. The nucleoid is just a region in the bacterial cell’s cytoplasm that contain the genetic materials. The DNA in bacteria and other prokaryote differ from eukaryote in that the prokaryotic DNA is circular and contains only one origin of replication. Eukaryotic DNA are linear and contains multiple origin of replication. Since there is no nuclear envelope in bacteria cells, both transcription and translation happens in the cytosol. In eukaryotic cells, the presence of a nuclear envelope compartmentalized DNA transcription within the nucleus.

Mitochondrion is an importance structure that lies in the cytoplasm area. Mitochondrion is the plural word for mitochondria, which is the key organelle that converts energy from one form to another. Mitochondria changes the chemical energy stored in food into compounds that are more convenient for the cell to use. The mitochondrion contains two special membranes. The outer membrane surrounds the organelle, and the inner membrane has many folds that increase the surface area of the mitochondrion.