Mitochondria:
Mitochondria are vescicular organelles present in the cytoplasm of every cell in varying numbers. For example, rat liver-cell contains nearly 2,500 mitochondria. most of them are granular, rod or thread shaped structures. They are chiefly asscociated with aerobic respiration and are also called power houses. Each mitochondrion is bounded by two membranes, the inner of which forms finger like projections called cristae; the inner
membrane separates the organelle''s volume into two phases: the matrix which is a gel like-fluid enclosed by a inner membrane, and the fluid-filled intermembrane space beetween the inner and outer membranes. The reactions of krebs cycles takes place in the matrix and and those of electron transport, coupled to oxidative phosphorylation, on the inner membrane. Recent biological discoveries strongly link mitochondria to what is commonly
known as programmed cell deaths or cell suicide (apoptosis).
apoptosis (literally meaning falling of of leaves from tress) is now known to occur as a
universal phenomenon in all leaving organisms course of development, tissue homeostasis, parasitic infections and several other pathogenic conditions. Apoptosis is an organised self destruction of redundant, damaged living
cells and different from usual cell death called necrosis.
Apoptosis is a genetically driven universal biological phenomenon in eukaryotes to controll cell number and eliminate cells which jeopardise the survival of the organism.
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