Mitochondria, found in nearly all eukaryotic cells, are one of the main features that distinguish

eukaryotes from prokaryotes. They may have originated as free-living aerobic organisms but
now cannot survive or reproduce outside of the cell. Mitochondria share several features with
alpha-proteobacteria, including their own genomes with a circular chromosome and special
ribosomes and transfer RNAs. Interestingly, many mitochondria exhibit minor differences from
the universal genetic code, and many of the genes for respiratory proteins appear to be of alpha-
proteobacterial origin and are now located in the nucleus. This suggests that over evolutionary
time, genes have been transferred from the endosymbiont chromosome to those of the host
genome. The structure of mitochondria supports the endosymbiotic theory. They are shaped like
alpha-proteobacteria and have two membranes. The inner membrane is bacterial, while the outer
membrane is eukaryotic, which aligns with the idea of a membrane-bound organism being
engulfed by another. The outer mitochondrial membrane would have come from the enclosing
vesicle, while the inner membrane would have been derived from the plasma membrane of the
endosymbiont. The inner mitochondrial membrane has substantial infoldings called cristae that
resemble alpha-proteobacteria. The matrix and inner membrane are rich in enzymes necessary
for aerobic respiration, further supporting the idea that mitochondria were once free-living
aerobic organisms.

Mitochondria, found in nearly all eukaryotic cells, divide independently through a process
similar to binary fission in prokaryotes. They can only arise from pre-existing mitochondria and
are not formed from scratch by the eukaryotic cell. Despite being highly integrated into the
eukaryotic cell, they still reproduce as if they were independent organisms within the cell. Some
eukaryotes are anaerobic and appear to lack organelles that could be recognized as mitochondria.
However, most of these anaerobic eukaryotes have reduced organelles and carry some genes in
their nuclei that are of mitochondrial origin. In addition to generating ATP, mitochondria have
other metabolic functions, such as generating clusters of iron and sulfur that are important
cofactors of many enzymes. The protist Monocercomonoides is an exception as it has no
mitochondria and its genome contains neither genes derived from mitochondria nor nuclear
genes related to mitochondrial maintenance. Despite this, it is related to other protists with
reduced mitochondria.The complex relationship between mitochondria and their host cell
continues to evolve, suggesting that the last common ancestor of eukaryotes had mitochondria.