Who Discovered the Mitochondria

Well, there is no single answer to this question. Since the discovery and identification of mitochondria was a gradual process. The discovery of mitochondria is not accredited to a single scientist as such, but is accredited to the several scientists who contributed to the discovery of mitochondrion and identification of its structure and functions. The earliest accounts of description of mitochondria go back to 1840. However, Richard Altmann was the first one to recognize the occurrence of these organelles and called them bioblasts. The name mitochondria was coined by Carl Benda in 1898 and the word mitochondrion has its origin in the Greek language where mitos means thread and chondros means granule, which describes the appearance of mitochondrion during spermatogenesis.

Well, if you are not sure about what mitochondria is, then perhaps you should know that mitochondria are one of the most vital organelles in our cells. The cells are the basic units, which make up the human organs. These cells are composed of several organelles, which are responsible for the proper functioning of the cells. 'Mitochondria', plural for mitochondrion, is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in most eukaryotic cells. They are also referred to as the powerhouses of the cell because they generate most of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the source of chemical energy. In addition to supplying cellular energy, these organelles are also involved in several other cell functions like cell signaling, cellular differentiation, and cell growth and cell death. Thus, mitochondria play an important role in many cellular functions.