2. What is a mitochondrion?
• They are microscopic organelles
• They are the power centers of cells
• They are only found in eukaryotic cells
• A normal animal cell will have 1000-2000 mitochondria
in them
• They convert food into ATP
• The ATP are the energy supply for all functions of life
• Mitochondria are like power plants because they
create energy and are vital to twenty first century life
just like our power!
3. ATP
• ATP is the primary energy currency of the cell
• It is used to create complex molecules
• ATP stands for Adenosine triphosphate
• Three phosphate groups, which is why it can store energy
• Over 160 Kg of ATP are made each day in a human body
• That means that 1120000000000 Kg of ATP were made
yesterday by humans!
• A good animation showing how ATP is synthesized-
http://sp.uconn.edu/~terry/images/anim/ATPmito.html
5. A Look Into the Depths of
Mitochondria
Cristae
Ribosome
Granules
Inner membrane
Outer membrane
Inner membrane space
http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us/asr/Bio%202/webquests/cell%20city/organelle%20links/mitochondria.gif
6. A look Even Deeper Into the Depths of
Mitochondria
• Cristae are in mitochondria because they
create more surface area, so more ATP can be
produced.
• Ribosomes are responsible for assembling the
proteins of the cell, or the mitochondria in this
case.
• Granules are small particles or grain.
• The membranes keep the cell safe and keep it
in one piece.
7. Bibliography
• http://www.sglearnonline.com/what-is-
atp.html
• http://biology.about.com/od/cellanatomy/ss/
mitochondria.htm
• http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/biology/mitochondria.htm
l
Video
• http://sp.uconn.edu/~terry/images/anim/ATP
mito.html
