Mitochondria

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-017531",
  "term": "Mitochondria",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Mitochondria are membrane-bound cell organelles (mitochondrion, singular) that generate most of the chemical energy needed to power the cell's biochemical reactions. Chemical energy produced by the mitochondria is stored in a small molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondria contain their own small chromosomes. Generally, mitochondria, and therefore mitochondrial DNA, are inherited only from the mother.\n\n2. Self-replicating organelles found in the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells that produce energy via oxidative phosphorylation.\n\n3. Semiautonomous, self-reproducing organelles that occur in the cytoplasm of all cells of most, but not all, eukaryotes. Each mitochondrion is surrounded by a double limiting membrane. The inner membrane is highly invaginated, and its projections are called cristae. Mitochondria are the sites of the reactions of oxidative phosphorylation, which result in the formation of ATP. They contain distinctive ribosomes, transfer RNAs ( RNA, transfer); amino acyl T RNA synthetases; and elongation and termination factors. Mitochondria depend upon genes within the nucleus of the cells in which they reside for many essential messenger RNAs ( RNA, messenger). Mitochondria are believed to have arisen from aerobic bacteria that established a symbiotic relationship with primitive protoeukaryotes. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)",
  "references": [
    "NIH Genetics Home Reference Glossary",
    "EPA Genetic Diversity as an Indicator of Ecosystem Condition and Sustainability Glossary at http://www.epa.gov/eerd/Glossary-%20Genetic%20Diversity.pdf",
    "NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/mitochondria/"
}