Final answer:
An organism that performs photosynthesis in each cell is called a photoautotroph, which includes plants, certain algae, and cyanobacteria. They use chlorophyll to convert light energy into chemical energy, with the process occurring in chloroplasts in eukaryotes and in membrane extensions in prokaryotes.
Step-by-step explanation:
An organism that carries on photosynthesis in each cell is known as an autotroph. Specifically, those that use sunlight to produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis are called photoautotrophs. This group includes plants, certain types of algae, and a group of bacteria known as cyanobacteria. They have the capability to use chlorophyll, which is a specialized pigment that absorbs certain wavelengths of light and captures energy from sunlight.
Photoautotrophs convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and release oxygen as a byproduct. In eukaryotic photoautotrophs like plants and algae, photosynthesis occurs within organelles called chloroplasts, whereas in prokaryotic photoautotrophs like cyanobacteria, the process takes place in folded membrane extensions and in the cytoplasm.