If you ever looked upon the fascinating images of mitochondria under the electron microscope (EM) with an astonishing resolution of 0.1 to 0.5 nanometers, you would have been fascinated how alien this little creature is. It resembles a miniature eclipse boasting a double membrane, just like the bacteria. As you observe closely, you'd notice the delicate sheets of cristae (the inner membrane), meticulously folded like the neatly arranged clothes in a store's display, all with a sole reason to increase surface area for ATP production: energy!
Mitochondrion is an exceptional organelle possessing its own DNA (and very much screwing up the geneticists' certain techniques) is theorized to have an ancient affair with our cells. Somewhere between 1.5 - 2 billion years ago, a momentous event unfolded when eukaryotic cells engulfed mitochondria in what seemed like a captivating kidnapping act. Instead of escaping, like in a Stockholm syndrome, this led to a symbiotic relationship, and as a result, each of our cells now proudly harbors this miraculous structure—an intrinsic energy generator and the powerhouse of the cell!
Until recently, it was generally accepted that all mitochondria (mt) and mtDNA are exclusively maternally inherited in human cell. However, a recent study conducted by Luo et al. in 2018 has challenged this long-standing central dogma. While the fundamental principle of maternal mtDNA inheritance remains valid, the study suggests the existence of exceptional cases where paternal mtDNA can be transmitted to the offspring. This groundbreaking discovery carries profound implications for our understanding of biology and sheds new light on certain diseases inherited through mtDNA.
The quest to comprehend the profound connection between mitochondria and our existence remains an ongoing and captivating scientific journey.
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