W26-L2: Mitochondria

Question 1

How many mitochondria are there in healthy cells?

Answer 1

200-10,000, around 1,000 in liver cells

Question 2

What are mitochondria?

Answer 2

Endosymbiotic bacteria

Question 3

What do mitochondria carry out?

Answer 3

Acetyl coA production from pyruvate or fatty acid oxidation, ketone body synthesis, TCA cycle and phosphorylation

Question 4

Why do mitochondria get damaged?

Answer 4

Electrons leak from electron transport chain to create ROS

Question 5

What is mitochondrial damage linked to?

Answer 5

Age related physiological degeneration

Question 6

What are mitochondrial diseases attributed to?

Answer 6

Mutations in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA

Question 7

What are ragged red fibres?

Answer 7

Hallmark of mitochondrial disease, red deposits in muscle