GPFontaine wrote:

I haven't taken biology since 10th grade (1996), but did anyone else catch the sentence: "In human bodies there is a natural cancer fighting human cell, the mitochondria, but they need to be triggered to be effective. Scientists used to think that these mitochondria cells were damaged and thus ineffective against cancer." Aren't mitochondria a part of almost all of our cells? They aren't a type of cell. It is like calling a liver, heart or lung a type of human.

They are a part of a cell, they are used to produce energy within cells.

aeonic wrote:

Alowishus wrote: GPFontaine wrote: I haven't taken biology since 10th grade (1996), but did anyone else catch the sentence: "In human bodies there is a natural cancer fighting human cell, the mitochondria, but they need to be triggered to be effective. Scientists used to think that these mitochondria cells were damaged and thus ineffective against cancer." Aren't mitochondria a part of almost all of our cells? They aren't a type of cell. It is like calling a liver, heart or lung a type of human. They are a part of a cell, they are used to produce energy within cells. They're also what contains DNA strands, and specifically, ones transmitted from the mother's side, if I'm not mistaken (mitochondrial DNA, anyone play Parasite Eve before?)

Incorrect i am afraid.

In cell biology, a mitochondrion (plural mitochondria) is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in most eukaryotic cells.[1] These organelles range from 0.5 to 10 micrometers (μm) in diameter. Mitochondria are sometimes described as "cellular power plants" because they generate most of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy.[2] In addition to supplying cellular energy, mitochondria are involved in a range of other processes, such as signaling, cellular differentiation, cell death, as well as the control of the cell cycle and cell growth.[3]

The DNA is held within the nucleus:

In cell biology, the nucleus (pl. nuclei; from Latin nucleus or nuculeus, meaning kernel) is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in eukaryotic cells. It contains most of the cell's genetic material, organized as multiple long linear DNA molecules in complex with a large variety of proteins, such as histones, to form chromosomes. The genes within these chromosomes are the cell's nuclear genome. The function of the nucleus is to maintain the integrity of these genes and to control the activities of the cell by regulating gene expression — the nucleus is, therefore, the control center of the cell.

Then there's RNA and endoplasmic reticiulium or some shit, i can't remember it's all A level stuff.

lavalarva wrote:

Alowishus wrote: Incorrect i am afraid. *insert copy-pasted wikipedia stuff about regular DNA* Now, mitochondrial DNA! Quote: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within eukaryotic cells that convert the chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Most other DNA present in eukaryotic organisms is found in the cell nucleus.

I'm afraid i must refute.

Mitochondrial DNA is the DNA specific to mitochondria i.e. it's the only DNA located there.

From chromosomes wiki:
Also, cells may contain more than one type of chromosome; for example, mitochondria in most eukaryotes and chloroplasts in plants have their own small chromosomes.

Nearly all other DNA is found in the Cell Nucleus.

Truthfully i wasn't aware of this Mitochrondia DNA, so my bad, but when Aeonic said: "They're also what contains DNA strands" i presumed ALL DNA.