Portage Learning Microbiology 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Chloroplasts are organelles that play a vital role in the process of photosynthesis, which is how plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose and other carbohydrates. In chloroplasts, chlorophyll captures sunlight, and through a series of biochemical reactions, carbon dioxide and water are transformed into glucose and oxygen. This process is essential for the survival of these organisms and for life on Earth, as it produces oxygen and organic compounds that serve as the basis of the food chain.

The other options do not accurately describe the function of chloroplasts. For instance, chloroplasts are not present in animal cells, which primarily rely on mitochondria for energy production. Similarly, cellular respiration occurs in mitochondria, not chloroplasts, as it involves the breakdown of glucose to produce energy. While chloroplasts do contribute to energy processes, they are specifically not the main energy producers, as that role is fulfilled by mitochondria in the cell. Thus, the emphasis on chloroplasts being necessary for photosynthesis highlights their critical function in certain organisms.