Mitochondrion (nonfiction)

Diagram of a mitochondrion.

The mitochondrion (plural mitochondria) is a double membrane-bound organelle found in all eukaryotic organisms, although some cells in some organisms may lack them (e.g. red blood cells).

Description

The word mitochondrion comes from the Greek μίτος, mitos, i.e. "thread", and χονδρίον—, chondrion, i.e. "granule" or "grain-like".

Mitochondria have been described as "the powerhouse of the cell" because they generate most of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy.

In addition to supplying cellular energy, mitochondria are involved in other tasks, such as signaling, cellular differentiation, and cell death, as well as maintaining control of the cell cycle and cell growth.

A number of organisms have reduced or transformed their mitochondria into other structures.

Fiction cross-reference

• Metachondria

External links

• Mitochondrion @ wiki.karljones.com
• Mitochondrion @ Wikipedia