A doctor sees a patient who has kidney failure, lack of motor coordination, and a poorly functioning nervous system. After testing, the doctor finds that these symptoms are all related to a chronic lack of energy in some of the patient's cells. The doctor diagnoses a metabolic disorder known as Leigh's disease.

Question

Based on this evidence, a malfunction in what organelle is most likely responsible for Leigh's disease?
Responses

Golgi apparatus
Golgi apparatus

Nucleus
Nucleus

Mitochondria
Mitochondria

Ribosomes
Ribosomes

Answer 1

Leigh's disease is a mitochondrial disorder, which means that it is caused by dysfunction in the mitochondria. Mitochondria are responsible for producing energy (in the form of ATP) for the cell, and a chronic lack of energy in cells is consistent with mitochondrial malfunction. Therefore, the organelle most likely responsible for Leigh's disease is:

Mitochondria