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Mitochondrial diseases – By Harold Gunatillake Website: www.Doctorharold.com Mitochondria-an organelle found in large numbers in most cells, in which the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur. It has a double membrane, the inner part being folded inwards to form layers (cristae). First, before we discuss mitochondrial dysfunctions or diseases, we need to understand what mitochondria are. It is a structure found in the cytoplasm of every cell in your body, covered by two thin membranes, the inner one corrugated, that generate most of the chemical energy needed to power the cell’s biochemical reactions. It is an energy powerhouse. The word cytoplasm refers to the fluid that surrounds the cell nucleus. The chemical energy produced by these organelles is stored within the cells in a small molecule called adenosine triphosphate or ATP. When your mitochondria function properly, storing energy in ATP, and using that energy to perform your daily ...