What is the function of mitochondria in a cell?

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Mitochondria are the cell’s powerhouses, turning the energy stored in nutrients into ATP, the molecule cells use for most activities. Through cellular respiration, glucose and other fuels are processed first to release some energy in the cytoplasm, then in the mitochondria the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain extract electrons and use their energy to pump protons across a membrane. This creates a gradient that drives ATP synthase to produce ATP. Oxygen serves as the final electron acceptor, allowing the chain to run smoothly and water to be formed as a byproduct. Because ATP powers nearly all cellular work, this function is the central reason mitochondria are essential.

Storing genetic information happens mainly in the nucleus (though mitochondria do contain some mitochondrial DNA, their primary role isn’t storage). Making proteins is carried out by ribosomes, not mitochondria. Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts, which are found in plants and some algae.