Justify the statement, 'Mitochondria are power houses of the cell'.

Explanation

Mitochondria is a sausage shaped or cylindrical structure having a diameter of 0.2 to 1.0 µm and length 1 .0 - 4.1 µm. Each mitochondrion is a double membrane bound structure with outer membrane and inner membrane dividing its lumen distinctly into two aqueous compartments.
The inner compartment is called matrix and outer one forming infoldings is called cristae towards the matrix. These cristae are associated with an increase in surface area.
The mitochondira are the actual sites of aerobic respiration. The produce cellular energy in the form of ATP. hence are called as power house of the cell.

This ATP generated is used in performing vital functions by the organism. The matrix of mitochondria also possess a single circular DNA molecule of itself and a few RNA molecules, ribosomes (70S) and the compartments required for the protein synthesis.