Mitochondria in different tissues are specialized and adapt their energy output to the specific needs of the cell type.

“Um, and sometimes the organism needs a lot of ATP. If you're a mitochondrian and you live in the heart and your job is to make ATP, a lot of ATP and then there's side jobs. If you're a mitochondrian in the liver, your job is very different and you're a very different kind of mitochondrian. >> Well, let me ask you this. Uh, I think you just answered the question, but >> are there different types of mitochondria? >> Yes. How does a mitochondria in the liver versus in the brain versus in the heart know to take the energy that it's transforming >> and pattern its output so that heart cells can do what heart cells need to do or liver or brain? >> Uh this seems like a very important issue.”