Inner Awakening® and Cellular Transformation

Title:

Inner Awakening® and Cellular Transformation

Researches:

The Science of Mitochondrial Function The human body is essentially an assembly of 50 trillion individual cells living in unison, working towards a common goal. Each cell is by itself a complete living entity with its own processes for sustenance of life, reproduction and so on. Most of the components of the cells are common to all, fulfilling basic common needs, yet each has its own specialized departmental work, be it secreting hormones, enzymes and so on. All these cells are powered by a single battery within the cell called the mitochondrion.

The mitochondrion is an interesting structure, only 1 micron in length, situated outside the nucleus in the cytoplasm of the cell. Mitochondria are the cell’s power producers. They convert energy into forms that are usable by the cell. They are the sites of cellular respiration which ultimately generate fuel for the cell’s activities. Their function is to optimize the utilization of energy-producing substances like glucose, and to produce ATP which is the energy molecule of the cell. Without mitochondria, the cell can produce only 2 ATPs per glucose molecule. The mitochondrion, on the other hand, can produce 32 ATPs per molecule of glucose, which is a 1700% increase in efficiency. Mitochondria are also involved in other cell processes such as cell division and growth, as well as cell death. Mitochondria have their own set of DNA, which allows them to function independently. Unlike the DNA in the nucleus of the cell, which is covered by a protective layer of histones, the mitochondrial DNA is naked and thus exposed to increased possibilities of damage. As it is, the repair mechanism of the mitochondrial DNA is not as efficient as that of the nuclear DNA. As we age, significant errors creep into the mitochondrial DNA which go unrepaired or insufficiently repaired. This leads to malfunction in the electron transfer chain of the mitochondria. Instead of producing pure energy in the form of ATP, a non-productive oxygen species called reactive oxygen species (ROS) is produced. This ROS damages cellular structures including the exposed mitochondrial DNA leading to a vicious cycle of dysfunction and aging, which in turn leads to cell death.