Science
What is Mitochondria?
Mitochondria are tiny structures inside cells, often called the 'powerhouse of the cell.' They turn food and oxygen into usable energy (ATP) through cellular respiration, powering almost everything cells do.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains mitochondria.
Key things to understand
- 1They generate most of the cell's energy (ATP) via respiration.
- 2They have their own DNA, hinting they were once independent bacteria.
- 3Cells with high energy needs (muscle, heart) have many of them.
- 4They're inherited almost entirely from your mother.
Frequently asked questions
- What do mitochondria do?
- They convert glucose and oxygen into ATP, the energy currency cells use to function.
- Why are mitochondria called the powerhouse of the cell?
- Because they produce most of the cell's usable energy.
- Why do mitochondria have their own DNA?
- It's evidence they descended from ancient bacteria absorbed by early cells.