Jason Lei
Author: University of Virginia
Date: October 16, 2014
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141016165955.htm
Summary:
Mitochondria can be found in almost any eukaryotic cell, and are what supply ATP (adenosene triphosphate)- the molecular "currency" and main source of energy, to the cell through cellular respiration. However, mitochondria's ancestors were energy-stealing parasites. The development of mitochondria started about 2 million years ago. Mitochondria started as a simple bacteria, which was enveloped and swallowed by a eukaryotic cell, where it took ATP from the cell, and only became like the mitochondria we know today when it switched its purpose, giving ATP to the cell instead. This combination and changing of purpose of mitochondria is extremely important to evolutionray life, however its sudden appearance and change still remains clouded in mystery. They allowed eukaryotic cells to improve and evolve to a much greater extent by providing a much quicker and easier source of energy. Mitochondria can also be used to trace human history of evolution and DNA.
Connection:
Mitochondria have many connections to what we have learned in class. Mitochondria are an essential organelle in eukaryotic cells, and is directly connected to cellular respiration in a cell. They create ATP which the cell uses to carry out its functions. Mitochondria changed over time from being an energy-stealing parasite, to becoming an essential energy-"creating" organelle in eukaryotic cells. This is a change of symbiotic relationships over time, as well as evolution to best suit its surroundings. Not only that, but by offering a reliable source of energy, mitochondria allowed cells to evolve at a much quicker pace than without, and without it the vast biodiversity we see today would likely be reduced to simple bacteria floating around. Over all, mitochondria originated as a simple bacteria that feed off energy in cells, and evolved to provide energy o the cell and became as essential to the cell as any other part of it.
Are there any singular mitochondria found out side the cell? If so why are they also found in cells?
ReplyDeleteAs of now, there are no specific bacteria that "are" mitochondria, however, the origin of mitochondria was discovered when comparing them to bacteria we can see today
DeleteDo these ATP stealing parasitical bacteria from 2 million years ago still exist today, or are they only existent in the form of mitochondria?
ReplyDeleteNo, however the mitochondria we can see now is comparable in structure to bacteria that do exist today, however what happened to the ancestral mitochondria is a good question worth looking into, however I myself do not know the answer
DeleteClarification: the bacteria that specifically evolved into mitochondria probably also evolved into other species of bacteria that are comparable to mitochondria
DeleteHow did eukaryotic cells produce ATP before the mitochondria became part of it?
ReplyDeleteBefore eukaryotic cells got mitochondria, they technically were still prokaryotes, so they produced ATP in the same way as any other prokaryote: anerobic respiration and chemial energy released from the breakdown of proteins
Delete