Many genes affect physiology and bioregulation. The mitochondria is an organelle of stellar importance to health. In this lecture Dr Palmquist will discuss the mitochondria and its possible origins, he will also describe the non-energy productive regulatory effects of mitochondria and how they relate to the pathogenesis of inflammation and degeneration. He will identify certain commonly used therapeutics and examine their effects on this important organelle and explain how integrative therapies can be used to improve mitochondrial health. The relationship between the microbiome and mitochondria will also be discussed.