Final answer:
Mitochondria are organelles that responsible for producing ATP through cellular respiration, characterized by their double-membrane structure and internal DNA and ribosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mitochondria are organelles that are essential for cellular respiration, making them crucial for energy production within eukaryotic cells. These double-membrane organelles, which are often described as the power plants of the cell, convert energy from organic compounds like glucose into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is used to fuel various cellular activities.
Mitochondria are unique in that they have their own DNA and ribosomes, resemble a bean in shape, and have an inner membrane that is folded into structures known as cristae to increase surface area for ATP production. The space inside the inner membrane is called the mitochondrial matrix, and this is where a series of proteins and enzymes carry out the biochemical reactions of cellular respiration.