What are genes doing inside the mitochondria?
There are 37 genes, mostly involved in energy production, inside the mitochondria. Scientists believe that mitochondria were once independent organisms resembling today’s bacteria, and that when they became part of human and animal cells, they kept their own genes. These genes, arranged on structures that are like the nuclear chromosomes but are ring-like in shape, carry the recipes for 13 proteins needed for mitochondrial functions. They also carry codes for 24 specialized RNA molecules that are needed to assist in the production of other mitochondrial proteins. For reasons that will become clear, it’s important to know that mitochondria also use proteins made by genes in the cell’s nucleus. These proteins are “imported” into the mitochondria.
