What is the primary role of mitochondria in aerobic respiration?

What is the primary role of mitochondria in aerobic respiration?

• A. To produce glucose through photosynthesis
• B. To serve as the site of ATP production
• C. To initiate protein synthesis
• D. To store genetic material

Answer: (B)

The primary role of mitochondria in aerobic respiration is to serve as the site of ATP production. Mitochondria are known as the "powerhouses" of the cell because they convert the chemical energy stored in food molecules into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency of the cell. This process occurs through a series of biochemical reactions known as the citric acid cycle (or Krebs cycle) and oxidative phosphorylation, both of which take place within the mitochondria. In aerobic respiration, oxygen is utilized to efficiently break down glucose and other substrates, resulting in the production of ATP, carbon dioxide, and water. Mitochondria contain their own DNA and machinery for protein synthesis, which allows them to produce some of the proteins necessary for their function, but their primary role in aerobic respiration is ATP generation. This makes them essential for meeting the energy demands of eukaryotic cells, especially in tissues and organs that require high energy, such as muscles and the brain.

The primary role of mitochondria in aerobic respiration is to serve as the site of ATP production. Mitochondria are known as the "powerhouses" of the cell because they convert the chemical energy stored in food molecules into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency of the cell. This process occurs through a series of biochemical reactions known as the citric acid cycle (or Krebs cycle) and oxidative phosphorylation, both of which take place within the mitochondria.

In aerobic respiration, oxygen is utilized to efficiently break down glucose and other substrates, resulting in the production of ATP, carbon dioxide, and water. Mitochondria contain their own DNA and machinery for protein synthesis, which allows them to produce some of the proteins necessary for their function, but their primary role in aerobic respiration is ATP generation. This makes them essential for meeting the energy demands of eukaryotic cells, especially in tissues and organs that require high energy, such as muscles and the brain.