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2006-10-07 06:29:26 · 5 answers · asked by Bamboo 2 in Science & Mathematics Biology

5 answers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_disease

has a list of diseases which are caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA.

2006-10-07 06:32:28 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ ♫ ☮ NYbron ☮ ♪ ♫ 6 · 0 0

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of disorders relating to the mitochondria, the organelles that are the "powerhouses" of the eukaryotic cells that comprise higher-order lifeforms (including humans). The mitochondria convert the energy of food molecules into the ATP that powers most cell functions.

Mitochondrial diseases comprise those disorders that in one way or another affect the function of the mitochondria and/or are due to mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial diseases take on unique characteristics both because of the way the diseases are often inherited and because mitochondria are so critical to cell function. The subclass of these diseases that have neuromuscular disease symptoms are often referred to as a mitochondrial myopathy.

The effects of mitochondrial disease can be quite varied. Since the distribution of defective DNA may vary from organ to organ within the body, the mutation that in one person may cause liver disease might in another person cause a brain disorder. In addition, the severity of the defect may be great or small. Some minor defects cause only "exercise intolerance", with no serious illness or disability. Other defects can more severely affect the operation of the mitochondria and can cause severe body-wide impacts. As a general rule, mitochondrial diseases are worst when the defective mitochondria are present in the muscles or nerves, because these are the most energy-hungry cells of the body.
for more pl. visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_disease

2006-10-07 08:38:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

In cell biology, a mitochondrion (plural mitochondria) (from Greek μιτος or mitos, thread + κουδριον or khondrion, granule) is an organelle, variants of which are found in most eukaryotic cells.[1] Mitochondria are sometimes described as "cellular power plants," because they convert organic materials into energy in the form of ATP via the process of oxidative phosphorylation. Usually a cell has hundreds or thousands of mitochondria, which can occupy up to 25% of the cell's cytoplasm. Mitochondria have DNA and may, according to the endosymbiotic theory, be descended from free-living prokaryotes whose closest modern-day relative is thought to be rickettsia bacteria

2006-10-07 06:33:50 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0 1

Mitochondria are rod-shaped organelles that can be considered the power generators of the cell, converting oxygen and nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the chemical energy "currency" of the cell that powers the cell's metabolic activities. This process is called aerobic respiration and is the reason animals breathe oxygen. Without mitochondria (singular, mitochondrion), higher animals would likely not exist because their cells would only be able to obtain energy from anaerobic respiration (in the absence of oxygen), a process much less efficient than aerobic respiration. In fact, mitochondria enable cells to produce 15 times more ATP than they could otherwise, and complex animals, like humans, need large amounts of energy in order to survive.

2006-10-07 06:31:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

Mitochondria are power sources of a cell. They are distinct organelles with two membranes. Usually they are rod shaped,however they can be round.

2006-10-07 06:37:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

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