Why can mitochondria not divide independently?

Mitochondria cannot divide independently because they lack the necessary machinery and components to carry out the process of cell division. Mitochondria are organelles that are believed to have originated from ancient bacteria that were engulfed by a eukaryotic cell through a process called endosymbiosis. As a result, mitochondria have their own DNA and can replicate independently of the cell's nucleus, but they still rely on the cell's machinery for division.

During cell division, the cell's nucleus undergoes a process called mitosis, where the DNA is replicated and divided into two daughter cells. Mitochondria do not have the ability to undergo mitosis on their own, as they lack the necessary structures such as a spindle apparatus and centrioles that are required for chromosome segregation and cell division. Instead, mitochondria replicate by a process called fission, where they elongate and divide into two daughter organelles. This process is regulated by the cell and requires the involvement of proteins and enzymes that are produced by the cell's nucleus.

In summary, mitochondria cannot divide independently because they lack the necessary machinery and components to carry out the process of cell division. They rely on the cell's nucleus for the proteins and enzymes required for replication and division.

Mitochondria cannot divide independently because they lack a nucleus and the genetic material necessary for independent cell division. They are dependent on the cell's nuclear DNA for the synthesis of proteins required for their replication and division.