Final answer:
Chloroplasts are contained in plant and algal cells and convert light energy to chemical energy through photosynthesis. Inside, it consists an outer membrane, an inner membrane, and thylakoid membranes where photosynthesis occurs. This process of photosynthesis makes plants autotrophs, capable of producing their own food
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer your question, the correct choice is E) The chloroplast converts light energy to chemical energy. Chloroplasts are specialized organelles found in plant and algal cells. They contain a green pigment called chlorophyll which is responsible for capturing light energy from the sun, a process integral to photosynthesis.
The internal structure of a chloroplast comprises of an outer membrane, an inner membrane, and membrane structures called thylakoids that are stacked into grana. The light capturing reactions of photosynthesis occur in these thylakoid membranes, while the creation of sugars (glucose) takes place in the fluid within the inner membrane, known as the stroma. These sugars are then used in cellular respiration to provide ATP energy generated in the plant mitochondria.
Unlike other organelles in the cell, the chloroplast has its own DNA and ribosomes, emphasizing its critical function. It is this capacity of the chloroplasts to convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis that makes plants autotrophs, enabling them to produce their own food, unlike animals which are heterotrophs and must consume food for energy.
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