Question

What are mitochondria? What is the basic morphology of these organelles and in which cells can they be found?

Answer 1

Mitochondria is a double membrane bound cellular organelle also known as power house of the cell as it's main function is to produce ATP ( adenosine triphosphate) energy currency of the cell. Mitochondria is semi autonomous in nature which means that it consists of its own distinct DNA .

Morphologically mitochondria is double membraned the outer membrane and the inner membrane. The inner membrane unlike outer membrane is not smooth and cylindrical but is Zig Zag with small granules giving it a rough appearance , the infoldings of the inner membrane is known as cristae , the space between outer and inner membrane is known as inter membrane space , to the inner membrane lies the plasma membrane known as matrix . Inside the matrix granules, ATP particles and ribosome are found in suspended state.

It is found inside each and every eukaryotic cell however prokaryotic cells lack mitochondria.