Why are mitochondria and chloroplast considered cells or bacteria?

Answer 1

I'm not sure about chloroplasts, but with mitochondria evolutionary history has led biolgists to believe that the mitochondria now present in eukaryotic cells to have originated a couple billion years ago when a very basic eukaryotic cell injested (ate) a bacterial cell. Then, instead of digesting it for food, the bacterial cell just stayed inside and functioned with the eukaryotic cell. The evidence for this lies in the structure, genetic information (mitochondria have their own DNA and replicate separately) and proteins present. This is why it could be considered a cell (bacterial), because it, at one point in history, was an actual bacterial cell.

i think the above answer is a little misleading to the question. so my answer is mitochondria and chloroplast are not considered cells or bacteria. bacteria is a cell and mitochondria and chloroplasts can be found in cells (plant and animal cells, not bacteria cells).

Answer 2

Mitochondria and chloroplasts were likely free-living bacteria that were engulfed by ancient cells through endosymbiosis. Over time, they became integrated into the host cell and developed a mutually beneficial relationship. They still retain some characteristics of their bacterial ancestors, such as their own DNA and the ability to replicate independently within the cell.