Mitochondria
A - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 15 - 2009 - Paper 1
Question 15
Mitochondria
A. contain circular DNA.
B. are the site of glycolysis.
C. prepare proteins for the Golgi complex.
D. produce 2 ATP molecules per molecule of glucos... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Mitochondria
A - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 15 - 2009 - Paper 1
Step 1
A. contain circular DNA.
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Answer
Mitochondria indeed contain circular DNA, which is similar to prokaryotic DNA. This feature is a significant piece of evidence supporting the endosymbiotic theory, which proposes that mitochondria originated from engulfed prokaryotic cells.
Step 2
B. are the site of glycolysis.
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Answer
This statement is incorrect. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell, not in the mitochondria. The initial breakdown of glucose into pyruvate happens outside of mitochondria.
Step 3
C. prepare proteins for the Golgi complex.
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Mitochondria do not prepare proteins for the Golgi complex. This role is carried out by ribosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum, where proteins are synthesized and modified prior to being forwarded to the Golgi complex.
Step 4
D. produce 2 ATP molecules per molecule of glucose.
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Answer
This statement is partially correct, but somewhat misleading. While glycolysis produces 2 ATP molecules directly, the complete oxidation of one molecule of glucose through cellular respiration (including the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation) in mitochondria yields significantly more ATP, typically around 30-32 ATP in total.
