Are they for storage or protection? You are not sure, are you? How would you like it if you were an important part of something and nobody cared enough to learn what you do?
Mitochondria generate power in cells and can be found in nearly every plant and animal. They convert oxygen and nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which powers a cell’s metabolic activities. Sure, maybe they are not as shapely as the cytoskeleton, as centered as the nucleus or as into physical fitness as the Golgi apparatus but they are still deserving of your love and attention.
So next time you are at a family function eloquently waxing poetic about the sensual wonders of the endoplasmic reticulum, stop for as moment and think about the other cell components, like the mitochondria, that play an important but less visible role in this thing we call Life!.
We all need a little positive reinforcement in our day.
(Do I craft a gnarly metaphor or what?)