A
mitochondrion is an
organelle
found in the
cells
of most
eukaryotes.
Mitochondria are sometimes described as
"cellular
power plants"
because their primary purpose is to
manufacture
adenosine
triphosphate
(ATP), which is used as a source of
energy.
The number of mitochondria found in different types of cells varies widely. At one end of the spectrum, the Trypanosome protozoan has one large mitochondrion; by contrast, human liver cells normally have between one and two thousand each. Mitochondria can occupy up to 25% of cell cytosol.
Studies
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