Question

Observations of mitochondria within living cells have shown that:

a. their shape is always cylindrical
b. they can exist as a tubular network
c. mitochondria are mobile within the cell
d. they cannot split apart
e. mitochondria cannot fuse with one another

Answer 1

Mitochondria within living cells can form a tubular network, are mobile within the cell, and are capable of both fusing and dividing, much like prokaryotes do via binary fission.

Step-by-step explanation:

Observations of mitochondria within living cells have shown that mitochondria can exist as a tubular network. Mitochondria are not always cylindrical in shape; they can be ovoid to worm-shaped to intricately branched. They are also mobile within the cell, capable of moving around inside the cell by interactions with the cytoskeleton. Furthermore, mitochondria can not only divide independently by a process similar to binary fission in prokaryotes, but they can also merge and fuse together, which is essential for their function and maintenance. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is that mitochondria can exist as a tubular network (b) and that they are mobile within the cell (c).