Mitochondria structure/ function/ evolution

Question 1

What is a Mitochondria?

Answer 1

• The powerplant of the cell, located in the cytoplasm
• They are inherited ONLY from the EGG= ONLY from the mom’s lineage which is why only 1 or a few types of mitochondrial DNA survive

Question 2

What is the structure of the Inner & Outer membrane of a Mitochondria?

Answer 2

• Outer membrane forms cover over entire organelle

- Inner membrane has extensive foldings (invaginations)= Cristae= increases the surface area of the inner membrane

Question 3

What is the Matrix component of the Mitochondrial structure?

Answer 3

-It’s an insoluble compartment that’s found inside the inner membrane= volume inside the innermembrane

Question 4

What is the Intermembrane Space component of Mitochondrial Structure?

Answer 4

-It’s the volume/ compartment between the inner & outer membrane

Question 5

What is the Mitochondria’s function?

Answer 5

• Plays a key role in energy metabolism

- Especially in Cellular Respiraton

Question 6

What is Cellular Respiration?

Answer 6

• Is the source of the most energy that the cell gets

- Most of the actions takes place at the mitochondrial membranes which is why their structure is important

Question 7

What is the process of Cellular Respiration?

Answer 7

• Oxidation of reduced organic compounds to provide energy for the cell
• Oxidation removes electrons from these reduced compounds (fats, sugars) & gives those electrons to oxygen
• Oxygen accepts electrons that come from the food molecules which causes oxygen to be reduced (remember that reduction is gain of electrons)

Question 8

What were Mitochondrias originally?

Answer 8

• Free living bacteria
• At some point, these free-living bacteria entered into the early eukaryotic cells & then began to live inside those cells, so= Endosymbionts that lost some of their DNA

Question 9

What did endosymbionts retain?

Answer 9

• Although they do lose some of their DNA, they did retain some of the DNA involved in ribosomes & translation & energy metabolism function
• Also retained ability to self replicate

Question 10

Where did our Mitochondria come from?

Answer 10

-Mitochondrial Eve!
-Which is a woman that lived in East Africa 200K years ago
(remember that mitochondria is only inherited by your mom)