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Updated: May 26, 2026

Determination of Mitochondrial Morphology in Live Cells Using Confocal Microscopy
Published on: July 3, 2025
A perspective on the determination of mitochondrial biogenesis
Benjamin F Miller1, Karyn L Hamilton
1Dept. of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1582, USA. Benjamin.f.miller@colostate.edu
Abstract:
The measurement of mitochondrial biogenesis is important in the determination of aging and disease processes and the assessment of countermeasurements to them. We argue that the frequently used assessments of cell signaling, mitochondrial protein mRNA, mitochondrial protein expression or enzyme activity, and mitochondrial density are not measurements that can lead to conclusions about mitochondrial biogenesis. Instead, we propose that only measurements of mitochondrial synthesis are indicative of biogenesis. Clarification of this issue will hopefully result in further differentiation of the processes important for morphological and functional changes of mitochondria.
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