Mitochondrial disorders

[Greta]

Mitochondrial disorders are a group of hereditary metabolic disorders that occur when mitochondria do not function correctly in the body. Hereditary disorders occur when parents pass the defective genes that cause these disorders on to their children.

Mitochondria are tiny structures inside cells that provide the cells with energy. Mitochondria are present in every cell except red blood cells. Unlike other structures inside cells, mitochondria have some of their own genetic material that is inherited only from the mother. Other genetic material for the mitochondria is in the cell nucleus with the rest of the cell