Mitochondria

Mitochondria(singular- Mitochondrion) are membrane bound organelles, that carry out oxidative phosphorylation, to produce ATP. What is more, mitochondria produce the majority of ATP used by eukaryotic organisms and are often referred to as the power houses of the cell. Furthermore, due to the fact that mitochondria are the site ATP synthesis, there is often have a linear relationship between the number of mitochondria in a cell and the cells ATP requirements e.g. a muscle cell uses vast amounts of ATP and thus often contains many mitochondria to adhere to this requirement and maintain function. A further point that must be brought to attention is that mitochondria contain there own DNA(circular)  

Structure

Mitochondria:

• Range from 0.5-1μm in diameter.
• Contain an inner(folds in) and outer membrane.
• Contain a cristae(singular crista) - internal compartments formed by the inner membrane folds.
• Contain a matrix- large overall internal compartment.

 

In sexual reproduction only the female gamete(ovum) has mitochondria when the gametes eventually fertilise, this is because the male gamete(sperm) draws upon all of its mitohondria for locomotion, to aid its travel to the ovum(egg). Furthermore, mitochondria in relation to the structure of the sperm, is wrapped tightly around the flagellum in the sperm and is fixed in this position, to enable the mitochondira to comply with the sperm's unusually high ATP consumption.