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They are the "powerhouses" of any cell (animal, chloroplast would be the plant cell equivalent organelle). It is the site of most cellular respiration including the one with the highest yield of ATP's, the electron transport chain (Chemiosmosis).

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15y ago
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15y ago

Mitochondria are important as the only site of aerobic respiration in the cell.

Some respiration (glycolysis) takes place in the cytosol, yielding 2 molecules of ATP per glucose molecule respired, but this is anaerobic. The product is pyruvic acid (pyruvate), which may form either lactic acid (lactate) or ethanol depending on the organism and the conditions.

If the cell is respiring aerobically, pyruvate enters a mitochondrion, where it joins a metabolic pathway known as Krebs cycle, or the tricarboxylic acid cycle. At certain points along this pathway, and during the associated oxidative phosphorylation, energy is released in large enough packets for ATP synthesis.

There is no fixed yield of ATP in the mitochondria, as some factors vary, but the yield is more than 10 times as high as for glycolysis, and may be as high as 30 ATP molecules per original glucose molecule.

For more detail:

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/W/Welcome.html

then look under page M and scroll down to Mitochondrion [structure and functions],

and page P and scroll down to Photosynthesis [light reactions]

The mitochondria are also important because they contain DNA. This mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited from the female parent.

Some of the 37 genes in the mtDNA may affect human health. For example, a mutated version of one of these genes may cause blindness.

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13y ago

It is the site for ATP which is the energy we use to make everything work

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12y ago

mitochondria is the power source of the cell. it creates and stores energy.

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9y ago

It generates energy for the cell, thus giving energy to the body. Energy is pretty vital to live a life.

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Q: Why is mitochondria so important to the cell?
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Related questions

What important gas does a mitochondria take in so that it can create energy for the cell?

oxygen


Why is it important that both plant an animal cell contain mitochondria?

It is important because the mitochondria is like a gate keeper it controls what comes in the cell and what comes out of the cell


What do Mitochondria do for an animal cell?

Mitochondria is an important component of Cell. It is regarded as a Energy generator to cell. It will produce energy for cell maintainance , cell division , and cell death.


Why is the mitochondria important to the fat cell?

Mitochondria is important to all cells. It produces energy for the cell. It's like a battery in a flashlight. If you did not have the battery,no light.


What is the energy releasing parts of a cell?

Mitochondria is most important part of cell that produces ATP (energy ) in cell . Some energy is produced in cytoplasm .


What do mitochondria do in a amimal cell?

It's a very important organelle in cells because the mitochondria is what makes the energy for the cell. :D


Why is the mitochondria important to the animal cell?

The mitochondria is important to animal cells because it is the powerhouse of the cell. It produces energy in the form of ATP through cellular respiration. It also plays a role in regulating cell metabolism and apoptosis (programmed cell death).


Why are the chloroplast and mitochondria so important for the plant cell?

The Chloroplast helps the plant to Photosynthesize and The Mitochondria produces energy to support all the cellular activities. Therefore, the Chloroplast and the Mitochondria are very important fort eh existence of a plant.


Which is an important function of mitochondria?

It performs an important function.Primary function of mitochondria is to produce energy.It act as the power house of cell.


Why is the nucleus and mitochondria important in cells?

The nucleus holds information, the mitochondria supply energy.


What is the function of the mitochondria cells?

The mitochondria is basically the "power house" of the cell. It creates ATP by the use of Krebs cycle and such. The cell uses ATP for all of its function's the mitochondria is a very important part of the cell. Without it'd fail to function.


What organelles are most important in providing the cell with energy?

Mitochondria