€ 205
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mitochondrion necklace | sterling silver
“The powerhouse of the cell” is the line about mitochondria that outlived school biology. A mitochondrion necklace is a gift for a woman whose work starts where that line stops, or for a friend who still smiles every time she hears it.
Who It's For
- a daughter who has earned her PhD
- a sister, for her graduation
- a mum, for her 70th birthday
- your wife, if she is a bit of a geek
- a researcher who works on mitochondria, as a Christmas present
- yourself, as a pendant to wear every day
Adriana V.: “I gave the mitochondrion as a gift to my daughter who obtained her PhD degree in immunology. She was very happy with the gift.” And Ian A.: “I got this for my lovely geek of a wife. It is not the first thing we have bought, nor will it be the last.”
How a Mitochondrion Makes ATP
A mitochondrion is wrapped in two membranes, and the inner one folds inward into cristae. In muscle, brain and most other tissues, this inner membrane is where the bulk of the ATP is made. Proteins in it pass along electrons from the breakdown of food and use their energy to pump protons across it. The protons flow back through ATP synthase, an enzyme whose central rotor turns as they pass, making ATP, the molecule cells spend for energy. In mitochondria, ATP synthase sits in pairs, and the pairs line up in rows along the tightly curved edges of the cristae, where they help bend the membrane. In yeast that cannot form the pairs, the cristae lose their usual shape.
Explore Related Biology Jewelry
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FAQ
How big is the pendant, and how does it sit?
The pendant measures 24 mm (about 0.9 inches), close to a US quarter and a little smaller than a 2-euro coin. It hangs upright from a small loop on a 45 cm (17.7 inch) sterling silver chain with a 5 cm (2 inch) extender, and sits below the collarbone. Extra chains of 40, 42, 45 and 50 cm (each with the extender) or 80 cm can be added on this page. Our sterling silver is nickel-free and hypoallergenic. Store it dry and wipe it with a soft cloth.
Is there a gold version, or matching earrings?
Yes. The same 24 mm design comes in gold vermeil, 2.5 microns of 18K gold over solid sterling silver, on a 45 cm gold vermeil chain with a 5 cm extender. Choose the finish she already wears. The design is the same in both finishes. There is also a separate mitochondrion necklace design at 33 mm that combines silver and gold vermeil in one pendant, and mitochondria studs in sterling silver (13 mm).
Will it arrive in time, and what if it isn't right?
DHL Express delivers it free worldwide in 1-5 business days, and we pay the import duties and taxes, so nothing is due at the door. It arrives in a ready-to-gift jewelry box and festive envelope. If it isn't right, our 30-day “Love It or Return It” policy applies.
Who explained how mitochondria use protons to make ATP?
Peter Mitchell, a British biochemist, with experiments he ran alongside Jennifer Moyle. In 1961 Mitchell proposed in Nature that cells hold the energy from food as a difference in protons across a membrane, not in the chemical intermediate others were hunting for. The leading labs resisted it for about ten years. Ulcers had ended Mitchell's post in Edinburgh in 1963, and he and Moyle set up a small laboratory in a restored house in Cornwall. In 1978 the Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to him alone, for the chemiosmotic theory.
Cellular Biology
Step into the fascinating world of cellular biology through our unique jewelry designs. These pieces serve as wearable reflections of life's microscopic wonders, capturing the aesthetics of DNA strands, cellular formations, and more. Far from simple adornments, they spark dialogue and honor the captivating complexities found within biological research. Merging scientific accuracy with artistic flair, each creation offers a tactile experience that bridges the gap between scientific inquiry and aesthetic appreciation.
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