Mitochondria

Mitochondria are unique organelles found in nearly all eukaryotic cells. They “are the sites of cellular respiration, the catabolic process that generates ATP by extracting energy from sugars, fats and other fuels with the help of oxygen (Campbell and Reese 124). Thus, mitochondria are essential to the vitality of a cell as they provide the cell with energy. Unlike most organelles, mitochondria have a double membrane and possess their own DNA and ribosomes.
The structure of mitochondria is similar to that of bacteria and is generally inclusive of mitochondria in all plant, animal and lower eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria are oval in shape, and about 1-10µm long and have both and an outer and an inner membrane. Each membrane is a phospholipid bilayer that contains proteins unique to mitochondria. The enzyme that makes ATP and other proteins that operate in respiration are built into the inner membrane (Campbell and Reese 124). The peripheral, or outer, membrane is a “c...