Is the mitochondria the power-house of the cell?

Answer 1

Careful with saying generates most of the cell's energy. Energy cannot be created or destroyed - thermodynamic principle. The Mitochondria convert one form of energy (chemical) to potential to another form of chemical energy . Energy stored in organic molecules is extracted by redox reactions, used to generate a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane and the potential energy is used to drive the synthesis of ATP (chemical energy).

Answer 2

Hello!

Yes! The mitochondria are often called the "powerhouse of the cell" because they generate most of the cell's energy through the process called cellular respiration. They convert energy from nutrients into ATP, the molecules that powers many cellular functions.

Most eukaryotic cells have a mitochondria apart from specialized cells (red blood cells and some single-celled eukaryotes). However, prokaryotic cells (bacteria and archaea) don't have mitochondria.

Hope this helps,

Collette