Q. What are the mitochondria? What is the fundamental morphology of these organelles and in which cells can they be found?
Mitochondria are the organelles in which the most significant part of the cellular respiration occurs in the ATP production.
Mitochondria are organelles delimited by two lipid membranes. The internal membrane invaginates to the internal of the organelle forming cristae that delimitate the internal space known as mitochondrial matrix and where mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), mitochondrial RNA (mt RNA), mitochondrial ribosomes and respiratory enzymes can be found. Mitochondria are numerous in eukaryotic cells and they are even more abundant in those cells that use more energy, like muscle cells. Because they have their own RNA, DNA and ribosomes, mitochondria can self-replicate.