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5.1: Case Study: The Importance of Cells

  • Page ID
    17026
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    Case Study: More Than Just Tired

    We all get tired sometimes, especially if we have been doing a lot of physical activity. But for Jasmin, a 34-year-old former high school track star who is now a recreational runner, her tiredness was going far beyond what she thought should be normal for someone who is generally in good physical shape. She was experiencing extreme fatigue after her runs, as well as muscle cramping, spasms, and an unusual sense of heaviness in her legs. At first, she chalked it up to getting older, but her exhaustion and pain worsened to the point where this former athlete could no longer run for more than a few minutes at a time. She also began to experience other unusual symptoms, such as blurry vision and vomiting for no apparent reason.

    exhausted person with their head down
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Exhausted

    Concerned, she went to her doctor. Her doctor ran many tests and consulted with several specialists. After several months, Jasmin is finally diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease. Jasmin is surprised. She has an 8-year-old niece with a mitochondrial disease, but her niece’s symptoms started when she was very young, and included seizures and learning disabilities. How can Jasmin have the same disease but different symptoms? Why did she not have problems until adulthood while her niece had symptoms at an early age? And what are mitochondria anyway?

    Chapter Overview: Cells

    As you will learn in this chapter, mitochondria are important structures within our cells. This chapter will describe cells, which are the basic unit of structure and function in all living organisms. Specifically, you will learn:

    • How cells were discovered, their common structures, and the principles of cell theory.
    • The importance of size and shape in the functions of cells.
    • The differences between eukaryotic cells (such as those in humans and other animals) and prokaryotic cells (such as bacteria).
    • The structures and functions of parts of cells including mitochondria, the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, nucleus, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, vesicles, and vacuoles.
    • How the processes of passive and active transport move substances into and out of cells and help maintain homeostasis.
    • How organisms obtain the energy needed for life, including how the sugar glucose is broken down to produce ATP through the processes of aerobic cellular respiration and anaerobic respiration.

    As you read this chapter, think about the following questions related to Jasmin’s disease:

    1. What are mitochondria? What is their structure, function, and where did they come from during evolution?
    2. Why are fatigue and “exercise intolerance,” such as Jasmin’s extreme exhaustion after running, common symptoms of mitochondrial diseases?
    3. Why do you think Jasmin has symptoms that affect so many different parts of her body including her legs, eyes, and digestive system?

    Attributions

    1. Tired by Dace Kiršpile licensed CC BY 2.0 via Flickr
    2. Text adapted from Human Biology by CK-12 licensed CC BY-NC 3.0

    This page titled 5.1: Case Study: The Importance of Cells is shared under a CK-12 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Suzanne Wakim & Mandeep Grewal via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

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