Different antibiotics function in different ways. Ideally, the antibiotic kills the bacteria, but does not harm the infected human. One type of antibiotic, tetracycline, can affect the way in which human mitochondria function. What explains the effect of tetracycline on human mitochondria? 1 The antibiotic prevents the synthesis of peptidoglycan cell walls. 2 The antibiotic prevents synthesis of linear DNA. 3 The antibiotic prevents translation by binding to 70S ribosomes.