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.
Another involves changes in mitochondrial metabolism that influence inflammatory gene activity through epigenetic mechanisms.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026
Gross's team had previously established that Mitch plays a major role in mitochondrial fusion, the process that allows separate mitochondria to merge.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026
The study does not establish that existing mRNA vaccines cause mitochondrial damage in people.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026
The researchers suggest that excess RNA may represent one previously unrecognized source of mitochondrial stress.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 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
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
