Mitochondria contain their own genome, are able to duplicate, and actually divide on a different timeline from the rest of the cell. Nevertheless, mitochondria cannot function for long when isolated from the cell because they are Viruses Parasites Endosymbiotes Anaerobes Solution Mitochondria cannot function on their own as they are endosymbiotes as they are organelles which were prokaryotes which developed a symbiotic relationship with eukaryotes and are now functioning as one functioning system..