Dr. Mark Pellegrino

Despite the provocative title, the spotlight of this book is the mitochondrion. Often referred to as the “powerhouse” of the cell, this complex organelle is the main provider of cellular energy. I first learned of mitochondria and its role in energy production early on in my education. I remember distinctly studying the frighteningly complex biochemical reactions that mitochondria employ to fuel the cell’s energy needs, and how relieved I was when the exam covering this material was over! Who would have thought that one day, many years in the future, mitochondrial biology would be the focal point of my research program as an independent investigator? Indeed, I now embrace the very metabolism of mitochondria that once frightened me as a young student. Written in a casual narrative voice, this book summarizes the many functions of mitochondria that are less publicized, including its role in determining how animals age, a topic which is studied by my research group today. I chose this book because, just as the field of mitochondria has grown dramatically in recent years, so have I from a young, apprehensive student to a now tenured professor at a rapidly evolving institute.