mitochondrial
Americanadjective
Explanation
Anything mitochondrial has to do with the tiny energy-producing organelles in a cell. Mitochondrial diseases result in damage to cells when they can't generate enough energy. Mitochondrial comes from mitochondria, those billions and billions of minuscule parts of a cell that act as its battery, generating energy to keep it functioning. A German microbiologist coined the word from Greek roots mitos, "thread," and khondrion, "little granule." Mitochondrial DNA is the specific genetic material within mitochondria; and mitochondrial therapies can involve replacing parts of a person's mitochondria in order to treat or prevent certain diseases.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When researchers completely deleted PRX3 from mesothelioma tumor cell lines, mitochondrial function declined, cell growth slowed sharply, and the cancer cells could no longer form tumors in animal experiments.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026
Importantly, the immune signals caused by leaking mitochondrial DNA and RNA were still present.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
The genetic material was then compared with mitochondrial and Y-chromosome DNA supplied by descendants.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
In addition to protecting nerve cells and supporting mitochondrial function, the compound appeared to benefit the heart and affect some signs of aging in the mice.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
Because fathers don’t contribute mitochondrial DNA to the embryo, the succession occurs only through the female line.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
