Final answer:
The false statement about mitochondria is that they are found in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria are unique to eukaryotic cells, and contain their own DNA and ribosomes, with a double membrane structure where cellular respiration takes place. Option c.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic that is NOT true of mitochondria is C. Mitochondria are found in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria are only found in eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria, which are a defining feature of eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria have two membranes: an outer membrane and an inner membrane folded into cristae. The area inside the cristae is the mitochondrial matrix, where the Krebs Cycle of cellular respiration takes place. The inner membrane is where ATP synthesis occurs, making mitochondria the cell's powerhouse. They also contain their DNA and ribosomes, thought to be a result of an ancient symbiotic event where a free-living prokaryote was engulfed by an ancestral eukaryotic cell.