Recent research, however, strongly suggests a much more active role. Their regulation of calcium levels and other signaling pathways are essential to this process.31 Their fusion with each other appears to send signals that activate genes in the nucleus. When mitochondria are prevented from fusing with each other, the cells don’t develop correctly.32 Other research has shown that mitochondrial growth and maturation is essential to proper cell differentiation.33 Still other research has shown a direct and essential role of mitochondria in the development of brain cells.34 The bottom line is
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