Mitochondria and Its Functions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mitochondria and Its Functions - Essay Example The present paper has identified that mitochondrial chromosomes are inherited from our mothers.  Although minutely small, mitochondria are of major importance to athletic activities because the increase in their density is associated with enhanced performance capacity ("Mitochondria Functions" n.d. para. 1).  To answer the question on which between a world-class runner and a typical couch potato would have a much higher density of mitochondria from their sample muscle biopsies, it would definitely be the world-class runner because mitochondria are concomitant with exercise and physical activity.  Furthermore, mitochondria are the only places inside the muscles where carbohydrate, fat, and protein can be broken down in the presence of oxygen to create the energy needed for exercise. As a consequence, the more mitochondria an individual has, the more energy that individual can generate during exercise resulting in faster and longer time doing running, swimming and other physical activities ("Mitochondria Functions" n.d. para. 2).  Several studies have been done to document or otherwise prove that increased exercise generates a higher density of mitochondria. There are differences from these findings as to what type of physical activity generates more mitochondria such as intensity, faster but shorter duration or longer but slower duration. There are three types of human muscles: the cardiac, smooth and skeletal. The skeletal muscle is further classified into three types, which are the Type I, Type IIA and Type IIB fibers. Type IIB Fibers are white and geared to generate ATP or Adenosine triphosphate—an important carrier of energy in cells in the body—that is not able to supply skeletal muscle fibers continuously with sufficient ATP and have a fast concentration velocity. Type IIB fibers are found abundantly in the muscles of the arms (â€Å"Muscle†, n.d.). In one of the studies dealing with mitochondria, researchers were able to differentiate its effects depending on the type of muscle.