A Science Guy’s Almanac #22. Year 2. April 18, 2016
Mitochondria and Weiner Whistles: Twins Separated at Birth?
You’ve heard stories of identical twins that were separated at birth. Over the course of their lives, amazing similarities were found, even if they grew up in different countries. Click here for a true story.
I think I’ve found two dissimilar twins. I have no proof other than what I present in this post.
I invite you to agree or disagree with my conclusion. The choice is yours.
The mitochondrion is an organelle in cells that have a nucleus. The term organelle was derived by others from the term "organula," which Karl August Möbius first used in 1894. It means “tiny organ.” It was the generic name given to structures found within cells by early microscopists. In many diagrams of cells found in textbooks, the mitochondria (plural form) are orange.
The Oscar Meyer Weiner Whistle is a toy. It is distributed by the Oscar Meyer corporation as advertising for their hot dogs. In both its original (top) and modern (bottom) iterations—see photo—it, too, is orange.
Similarity #1: orange color.
Mitochondria are double-membrane structures. While they can change their shape to some degree, it appears as though they have a preferred shape. That shape is like a gel cap used in dispensing medicine—or—A HOT DOG! See below.
The original whistle was in the shape of a gel cap used in dispensing medicine—or—A HOT DOG!
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| A wiener whistle, in its first iteration before child-choking was a national concern. |
Similarity #2: shape of A HOT DOG.
Your body runs on energy supplied by an energy-carrying molecule called ATP. The energy stored in the ATP ultimately comes from glucose. Mitochondria convert the glucose energy—think of it as the electricity that runs through the wiring in your house—into ATP energy—think of ATP as a rechargeable battery.
Nearly all cellular processes require ATP battery power. Your cells use the ADP foundation over and over again. Food energy must be converted into usable ATP energy. The conversion is like AC electricity being converted into DC energy by a battery charger. The conversion from ADP to ATP is like recharging a rechargeable battery. ADP is “recharged” in the mitochondria by replacing the third phosphate.
You blow air into the hole in the end of a wiener whistle. The air is converted into sound as it leaves the whistle.
Similarity #3: Conversion of one thing to another.
I will admit there are some differences between the two objects as well.
- Mitochondria have their own DNA. They are membrane-bound organelles. Wiener whistles don’t have DNA. They are made of plastic.
- Mitochondria come from your mom. Well, all yours are progeny of the mitochondria in the egg your mother provided was fertilized by your dad’s sperm. Wiener whistles come from the Wienermobile.
Guess which description from above the photo's gonna show.
Now it’s time for you to take a stand. Review the evidence above and vote on the question:
Mitochondria and Weiner Whistles: Twins Separated at Birth?
YES or NO
Epilog: When I was a kid, the Wienermobile, which is what we called the Wiener Wagon, appeared annually at Valley Farm Market in Spring Valley. It was just a short walk from my house to where the anxiously awaited vehicle would park. The driver and passenger would pass out wiener whistles. It was an exciting event!
Next Almanac post: Wiener Whistles and Duncan Yo-yos
Follow me on Twitter: @CRDowningAuthor
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