Mitochondria, the
energy-producing structures within cells, exhibit diverse shapes such as
granules, rods, or threads due to their dynamic ability to fuse, fragment,
contract, and undergo complex changes in shape and size.
The number of
mitochondria in a cell varies from a few to thousands, depending on the
metabolic activities of the cell.
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| Mitochondria |
Mitochondria have a
double membrane structure. The outer membrane is smooth and acts like a sieve,
allowing small molecules to pass through. The inner membrane, on the other
hand, strictly regulates the movement of molecules and is folded into
structures known as cristae, which increase the surface area. The lipids and
proteins composing the mitochondrial membranes are organized into stalked
spherical bodies called oxysomes or F1 particles in the inner membrane. The
space between the two membranes is homogenous, while the interior of the
mitochondrion contains a dense matrix that houses RNA, DNA, and ribosomes. The
mitochondrial matrix contains circular DNA molecules that are responsible for
protein synthesis through RNA. Mitochondria are capable of self-replication.
Mitochondria are
renowned as the "powerhouses of the cell" because they generate ATP,
the primary carrier of cellular energy, through complex metabolic pathways.
Similar to how a power plant burns fuel to produce electricity, mitochondria
convert the chemical energy obtained from glucose products into ATP molecules.
This process, known as aerobic cellular respiration, requires oxygen and
produces carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. The oxygen we breathe in
enters cells and then mitochondria, while the carbon dioxide we exhale is
released by mitochondria.
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