Difference Between Golgi Bodies and Mitochondria

The key difference between Golgi Bodies and Mitochondria is on the function they perform. The main function of Golgi bodies (or Golgi apparatus) is the modification, sorting, and packaging of proteins for secretion while the main function of the mitochondria is the production of energy currency of the cell (ATP) through respiration.

Eukaryotic cells contain cellular organelles such as Golgi bodies, mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, nucleus, etc. These are vital organelles necessary for the cellular functions. Golgi bodies are a part of endomembrane system that comprises of vesicles and folded membranes while Mitochondria are double membrane-bound bean-shaped organelles found in eukaryotic cells.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Golgi Bodies
3. What are Mitochondria
4. Similarities Between Golgi Bodies and Mitochondria
5. Side by Side Comparison – Golgi Bodies vs Mitochondria in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What are Golgi Bodies?

Golgi bodies or Golgi apparatus is a complex of vesicles and stacked membranes. They are present in the eukaryotic cells’ cytoplasm, and they look like a maze. They also consist of stacks of flattened membranous sacs or cisternae. Furthermore, they are important since they involve in modifying, sorting, packaging and processing of proteins for secretion. Once Golgi apparatus modify proteins, they are sent to lysosomes, secretory granules or to plasma membrane for further functions.

Golgi bodies originate from the endoplasmic reticulum and work as an individual organelle in the cell. There are two types of Golgi in the cells namely, Cis Golgi and Trans Golgi network.

What are Mitochondria?

Mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles found in eukaryotic cells. Two membranes called inner membrane and outer membrane surround them. Further, they contain their own DNA other than nuclear DNA of the cell.

Mitochondria  serve as the powerhouses of the eukaryotic cells. They produce energy currency of the cell through aerobic respiration. And, the number of mitochondria present in a cell varies with the energy need. In addition to energy production, they also perform several functions in the cell such as cell signaling, cell differentiation, control of cell cycle, cell senescence, etc.

What are the Similarities Between Golgi Bodies and Mitochondria?

• Eukaryotic cells contain both Golgi Bodies and Mitochondria.
• They both are in the cytoplasm of the cells.
• Both are cellular organelles.
• Further, they are both membrane-bound organelles.

What is the Difference Between Golgi Bodies and Mitochondria?

Summary – Golgi Bodies vs Mitochondria

Golgi bodies and Mitochondria are two types of organelles found in eukaryotic cells. The Golgi bodies comprise of stacked membranes and vesicles and function to modify, sort out, process and package proteins for secretion. Mitochondria are the energy-producing organelles in the eukaryotic cells so they involve in aerobic respiration and produce ATP. This is the difference between Golgi bodies and mitochondria.

Reference:

1.“Structural Biochemistry/Cell Organelles/Mitochondria.” Structural Biochemistry/Cell Organelles/Mitochondria – Wikibooks, Open Books for an Open World. Available here
2.“Structural Biochemistry/Cell Organelles/Golgi Apparatus.” Structural Biochemistry/Cell Organelles/Golgi Apparatus – Wikibooks, Open Books for an Open World. Available here  

Image Courtesy:

1.’Golgi body’By Rlawson at English Wikibooks, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia 
2.’Mitochondrial DNA lg’By National Human Genome Research Institute – National Institutes of Health. National Human Genome Research Institute. “Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms.”Retrieved November 17, 2016, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia