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Mitochondria (singular, mitochondrion), 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, higher animals would likely not exist because their cells would only be able to obtain energy from [[anaerobic respiration]], 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.

'''Mitochondria''' (singular: '''mitochondrion'''), are rod-shaped [[organelle]]s 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, higher animals would likely not exist because their cells would only be able to obtain energy from [[anaerobic respiration]], 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.

   

   

The number of mitochondria present in a [[cell]] depends upon the metabolic requirements of that [[cell]], and may range from a single large mitochondrion to thousands of the [[organelle]]s. Mitochondria, which are found in nearly all [[eukaryote]]s, including plants, animals, fungi, and protists, are large enough to be observed with a light microscope and were first discovered in the 1800s.  

The number of mitochondria present in a [[cell]] depends upon the metabolic requirements of that [[cell]], and may range from a single large mitochondrion to thousands of the [[organelle]]s. Mitochondria, which are found in nearly all [[eukaryote]]s, including plants, animals, fungi, and protists, are large enough to be observed with a light microscope and were first discovered in the 1800s.