Why are mitochondria and chloroplast called semiautonomus?

Semi autonomous organelles are organelles with DNA. In eukaryotic cells, mitochondrion and chloroplast are semi autonomous organelles as it posses its own DNA. Majority of proteins needed for these organelles are coded by DNA or genes in the nucleus. Only few proteins are coded by organellar DNA. read more

Mitochondria are called semi autonomous cell organelle, due to the presence of mitochondrial DNA and 70 S ribosomes in matrix. The mitochondrial DNA can replicate and code for mitochondrial proteins. The mitochondria having 70S ribosomes and all the types of RNAs synthesize some of the mitochondrial proteins, e.g. the human mitochondrial DNA codes for 13 mitochondrial proteins. read more

That is why these organelles are called semi autonomous organelles. Some organelles enjoy some amount of autonomy or independence like in growth, division, production of some enzymes, hence called as semiautonomous organelles and Mitochondria and chloroplast fall in this category. read more

The word autonomy means self-governing. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are called semi-autonomous because they can feed and govern themselves and do not necessarily need the cell. read more