Was Mitochondria Its Own Cell?
Scientists Think That Mitochondria Were Once Independent Single-Celled Organisms Until, More Than a Billion Year's Ago, They Were Swallowed by Larger Cells...
Scientists think that mitochondria were once independent single-celled organisms until, more than a billion years ago, they were swallowed by larger cells. ... The nucleus now harbors the vast majority of the cell's genetic material—even genes that help the mitochondria function.
Do mitochondria exist on their own?
As vestiges of their ancient origin, mitochondria still have their own genome (although some of their DNA has been transferred to our genome). It's alien in appearance and composition when compared with our own nuclear genome (the DNA inside each of your cell's nuclei that contains about 20,000 genes).
How did mitochondria become part of the cell?
Mitochondria and chloroplasts likely evolved from engulfed prokaryotes that once lived as independent organisms. At some point, a eukaryotic cell engulfed an aerobic prokaryote, which then formed an endosymbiotic relationship with the host eukaryote, gradually developing into a mitochondrion.
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