2007-01-30 00:48:07 · 25 answers · asked by tay 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
No, it's part of a cell:
A spherical or elongated organelle in the cytoplasm of nearly all eukaryotic cells, containing genetic material and many enzymes important for cell metabolism, including those responsible for the conversion of food to usable energy. Also called chondriosome.
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2007-01-30 00:57:35 · answer #1 · answered by Pete J 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Ooh, I love questions like this. Mitochondria are believed to have originally been prokaryotes (a term that covers bacteria and archaea), that underwent endosymbiosis and became parts of eukaryote cells. Eukaryotes are plants, animals, protists and fungi. An endosymbiont is something that is engulfed by a cell. It's both a provider and a user of substances. The cell can end up being dependent upon its endosymbionts.
One example of something containing endosymbionts are tube worms (siboglinids). In their juvenile stage, they absorb bacteria, and then they seal up, relying on the bacteria to provide them with usable nutrients whilst supplyign the bacteria with food and the materials required to produce food. The same happens in a cows stomach, the rumen contains bacteria to process protein, and the bacteria in turn leach food off the cow.
Endosymbiosis in cells, the actual process of engulfing the mitochondria, occurred a really long time ago, approximately 2 billion years ago. The mitochondria established themselves within the cells, becoming mutually beneficial. Then it's presumed that some of the key DNA in the mitochondria was transferred to the DNA in the nucleus of the cell, making it replicable. Therefore, from then on, the mitochondria didn't need to be engulfed, it was already there.
From then on, the mitochondria was an organelle, which it still is.
So in answer to your question, mitochondrion were at some point a form of prokaryote, possibly a bacterium, but they are now an organelle, required to aid in respiration and produce ATP.
There is a lot of evidence showing that mitochondria were prokaryotes. The fact that they have their own DNA, independent of what's contained in the nucleus, in order to make their own proteins and RNA is one scrap of evidence. Also, the ribosomes associated with mitochondria are smaller than those normally found in eukaryotic cells. They're much more similar to those found in prokaryotes, as they're the same weight and size.
2007-01-31 23:54:48 · answer #2 · answered by Katri-Mills 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A mitochondrion is an organelle, i.e. it is a part of the cell, in the same way as the nucleus. It is elongated and has a double membrane. The presence of the double membrane has led to the sybiotic evolution theory which states that mitochondrion were originally bacteria which were engulfed by early eukaryotic (non bacterial) cells. This theory is backed up by the presence of the mitochondrial genome, which consists of a few genes that produce enzymes necessary for the respiration process. So in answer to your question, it is believed that the mitochondria were originally bacteria, but have now lost the ability to exist independantly.
2007-02-01 02:58:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, Mitochondria is not a bacterium. It is an independent cellular organelle------meant for cellular respiration (Krebs' cycle). However, there are certain similarities between Mitochondria and Bacteria. Both have same type of protein synthesizing machinary---which comprises of a piece of circular DNA, RNAs and 70s ribosomes. Therefore, some authors believe that Mitochondria have adapted to live endosymbiotically in eucaryotic cells long before. They are of the opinion that in the most primitive world they lived independently as prtoeprokaryotes.
2007-01-30 02:39:35 · answer #4 · answered by Janu 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No the mitochondria is the part of the cell which produces energy from respiration.
However we do think that it has evolved from a bacteria.
2007-01-31 09:11:37 · answer #5 · answered by supernova281977 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the mitochondria is in our cells it is them powerhouse of cells producing the energy and it it how we process oxygen witch is a toxic substance(they think oxygen is why we age pos) the mitochondria is a sort of parasite that was taken in to our cells millions of years ago and we cohabit very well. the mitochondria comes from the mother and is passed down that way it is also a type of DNA testing that can be done after the nuclei DNA has gone but it is shared between siblings
2007-01-30 03:30:02 · answer #6 · answered by TS100N 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No a mitochondrion is an energy/ATP-producing organelle found in eukaryotic cells (such as higher-level microbes like Protists, as well as cells of multicellular organisms). Bacteria are prokaryotic cells, meaning they have only genetic material within their cell membrane but no organized structure and no major organelles such as mitochondria.
2007-01-30 01:27:06 · answer #7 · answered by stickboy_127 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No, but there is a catch. Mitochondria have their own genomes, that are very bacteria-like. In all likelihood, mitochondria were free living bacteria at one point that got trapped into a symbiotic relationship.
2007-01-30 00:59:06 · answer #8 · answered by floundering penguins 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No, but it's thought that most organelles in eukaryotic cells e.g mitochondria, chloroplasts, etc were once free living prokaryotic cells closely related to bacteria.
2007-01-30 02:53:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
nope. mitochondria are cellular organelles that are responsible for tissue respiration.
the confusion about them and bacteria might be due to the existence of the endosymbiotic theory which explains the origins of mitochondria and chloroplasts. It is theorised that mitochondria are derived from proteobacteria (prokaryotic organism) and they were taken up by eukaryotic cells as endosymbionts.
the direct answer to your question would be no. mitochondria are not bacteria.
2007-01-30 00:59:56 · answer #10 · answered by rfedrocks 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋