An Introduction
This introduction will just “scratch the surface” on the subject of this very small part of our body. Mitochondria vary in size, commonly between 0.75 and 3 µm (micrometers) in cross section. For comparison, a single grain of fine sand or dust is roughly 1 µm. So these parts of our cells range in size from ¾ the size of a grain of sand up to 3 grains of sand. Despite their small size, the mitochondria are vital to our survival.
Mitochondria are found in nearly all the cells of our body and are considered the “energy factory” of the body. In cells or organs with high metabolic activity and high energy demands, such as muscle and nerve cells—especially the heart, brain, and eyes—mitochondria occur in greater concentrations because energy consumption here is great. Liver and muscle cells can contain hundreds, even thousands, of mitochondria. Because of its critical nature and high demand for energy, the heart contains the greatest concentration of mitochondrial cells in the body. Red blood cells are an example of cells in our body which do not have mitochondria.
Mitochondria were first discovered in 1857 by Albert von Kölliker in the voluntary muscles of insects and named by Carl Benda in 1898. The word comes from the Greek words mitos, meaning “thread,” and chondrion, meaning “granule.” “Powerhouse of the cell” was a phrase adapted by Philip Siekevitz in 1957, describing a primary function of the mitochondria. This phrase stuck and is commonly used today.
Most cells in the body contain organelles, organized or specialized structures or “organs” within a living cell. Mitochondria are unlike other cellular organelles in that they have two distinct membranes—an inner and an outer—and a unique chromosome structure. When genetic material is taken from a human, most strands of DNA represent the genetic chromosomes of both the father and mother. Mitochondrial cells have the majority, if not all, of their genetic material from the mother. The maternal egg cell donates the majority of the cytoplasm, material within the cell membrane, to the embryo. The cytoplasm contributed to the embryo from the father, the much smaller amount, is usually destroyed.
Genesis 1:27, 28, first part, tells us: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth.’ ”
Through research of the mitochondrial genes, scientists have confirmed God’s instruction to Adam and Eve. Science has proven that all humans alive today can be traced to a single woman ancestor. They believe that this woman lived among other women, but that her maternal DNA superseded that of all other women.
The main function of mitochondria is to generate the chemical energy necessary to power cells. They do this by turning nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into chemical energy that the body will use to live. This is done through a very complex, 8-step chain of chemical reactions known as the Krebs Cycle. These energy factories supply our body with 90% of the energy we need to function. They generate the majority of this energy from adenosine triphosphate (ATP). They are also involved in other pathways related to our metabolism. But, there is more to mitochondria than just the production of energy.
If you want to age well, you need the mitochondria to work smoothly and efficiently. Research is now showing that strong mitochondria protect your DNA. As the mitochondria are damaged, they frequently steal from our healthy DNA for their repair.
Mitochondria are important in cell repair, so you really wouldn’t want to do things that would cause them harm. They also start and regulate apoptosis, a process of programmed cell death necessary for the removal of poor or damaged cells. This is very important in cancer prevention because cancer cells are abnormal cells that need to be recognized and destroyed. So, the lack of mitochondrial health may be related to cancer development.
Mitochondria are involved in many functions of the body:
- Help in the regulation of the cell cycle and cell growth,
- Help to regulate the concentration of calcium in the cell,
- Produce heat in certain cells,
- Detoxify ammonia and waste production of protein metabolism in the liver,
- Are indispensable for proper regulation of brain development as nerve cells develop,
- Are important in the synthesis of steroids needed by the body.
Without effective communication, our cells could not work harmoniously in our body. Cells constantly send and receive messages that help maintain balance between the different processes that occur within us. Mitochondria have a role in hormone and immune signaling. They also play a vital role in signaling within our cells.
So, what strengthens or weakens the mitochondria? What damages or improves them? Questions for another article.
As we reflect upon all that this little organelle does, no larger than three grains of fine sand, we cannot but proclaim, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:14
Sources: bonecoach.com/ari-whitten-the-energy-blueprint; theenergyblueprint.com; my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15612-mitochondrial-diseases; medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320875#aging; Copilot with GPT-4 (bing.com); webmd.com/a-to-z/mitochondria-what-to-know; sciencenotes.org/mitochondria-definition-structure-function