Plant cells can use energy from the sun to make food. Animal cells cannot. Which organelle is responsible for this difference between plant and animal cells?
The organelle responsible for the difference between plant and animal cells in their ability to use energy from the sun to make food is the chloroplast. Chloroplasts are only present in plant cells and are the site of photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy-rich molecules such as glucose. Animal cells lack chloroplasts, and therefore cannot perform photosynthesis. Instead, animal cells obtain energy from other sources, such as consuming other organisms or ingesting organic molecules.
The organelle responsible for the difference in the ability of plant cells to use energy from the sun to make food is called the chloroplast. Chloroplasts are specialized organelles found in plant cells that are responsible for capturing sunlight and converting it into chemical energy through a process called photosynthesis. Animal cells do not have chloroplasts, which is why they are unable to use energy from the sun to produce food.
