Question

Why are mitochondria not considered a part of the endomembrane system?

Answer 1

Endomembrane system:

1. The Endomembrane system is a membranous component of the eukaryotic cell.
2. The cytoplasm of this cell contains a system of membranous organelles which are suspended in it. These organelles are termed a system even though it has different structures and functions as they are essential to the working of the cell.
3. All these organelles work in coordination & they include the cell membrane, vacuoles, nuclear membrane, lysosomes, Golgi complex, vesicles and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
4. Since the functioning of other organelles like mitochondria, chloroplasts etc, are not coordinated with the functioning of the above, they are not considered part of the system.