mitochondrial

American  

[mahy-tuh-kahn-dree-uhl] / ˌmaɪ təˈkɑn dri əl /

adjective

1. relating to mitochondria.

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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

See Examples For:

mitochondrial

"They connect mitochondrial function to diseases like Alzheimer's and heart disease and now, potentially, to nutrition."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026

The researchers found that older adults who followed a Mediterranean diet most closely had higher blood levels of two mitochondrial microproteins called humanin and SHMOOSE.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026

Over years of research, Gross's team in Weizmann's Immunology and Regenerative Biology Department discovered that Mitch helps control this process by regulating mitochondrial fusion.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 3, 2026

A related study in aged female mice found that B12 supplementation improved several signs of mitochondrial health in muscle, including the number and structure of mitochondria.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026

Now Neel and Wallace scrutinized the two groups’ mitochondrial DNA.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann