ORGANELLE DIAGRAM: MITOCHONDRIA:
In this picture, a mitochondion appears as an elongate ovoid body. The mitochondrion's double membrane can just be discerned. The vertical bulkhead-like structures are cristae, formed from infoldings of the inner membrane. These cristae are the site of much enzymic activity involved in energy production for the cell. Mitochondria are thought to have been free-living organisms that became incorporated into cells early on in evolution. They even contain their own DNA, just like a separate life-form. Such mitochondrial DNA is very useful in constructing family trees.
SUMMARY
name(s): mitochondrion
location: scattered throughout cytoplasm
appearance: long ovoid with a double membrane, the inner one infolds to create bulkhead-like structures called cristae.
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