Florida Biology EOC Practice Test

The organelle responsible for energy production in eukaryotic cells is the mitochondria. These organelles are often referred to as the "powerhouses" of the cell because they generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through a process called cellular respiration. During cellular respiration, mitochondria take in nutrients, such as glucose, and use them to produce ATP, which is the energy currency that cells use to carry out various physiological functions.

Mitochondria contain their own DNA and ribosomes, which allow them to produce some of their proteins independently. This supports the endosymbiotic theory, suggesting that mitochondria were once free-living bacteria that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.

In contrast, the nucleus is primarily responsible for storing genetic material and coordinating cellular activities, while chloroplasts are involved in photosynthesis in plant cells but not in cellular respiration. The endoplasmic reticulum plays a role in the synthesis of proteins and lipids but does not directly produce energy.