Which of the following processes occurs in mitochondria?

Mitochondria are often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell because they play a crucial role in energy production through the process of cellular respiration. During cellular respiration, glucose and oxygen are utilized to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cell. This process involves several stages, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, all of which predominantly take place in the mitochondria.

In contrast, protein synthesis occurs in ribosomes, which can either be found floating freely in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. Photosynthesis is the process carried out by chloroplasts in plant cells, where light energy is converted into chemical energy stored in glucose. DNA replication takes place in the nucleus during the S phase of the cell cycle, where the cell’s DNA is duplicated in preparation for cell division. Thus, cellular respiration is distinctly the only process listed that occurs within the mitochondria.