Question

How do chloroplasts and mitochondria work together?

Answer 1

Hint: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of the cells. They break down the fuel molecules and capture the energy in cellular respiration. Chloroplasts are present in plants and algae. They basically capture the light energy to make sugar, during photosynthesis.

Complete answer:
-Mitochondria and chloroplasts likely began as bacteria that were engulfed by larger cells (the endosymbiont theory). Mitochondria and chloroplasts, both, possess their own DNAs and ribosomes.
Chloroplasts are present solely in photosynthetic algae and plants. (Humans and animals do not contain chloroplasts).
-The role of chloroplasts is to carry out a process called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, the light energy is collected and used up to form sugars from the carbon dioxide.
-Mitochondria are - the powerhouses or energy factories of the cells. Their function is to make a good supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the main energy-carrying molecule of a cell. The process of making ATP by using up the chemical energy from fuels, like sugars, is known as - Cellular Respiration.
-Chloroplasts and mitochondria don’t work together intentionally. But, the oxygen & glucose produced by photosynthesis, in the chloroplasts, are necessary for the mitochondria, so as to carry out aerobic cellular respiration.
-The carbon dioxide which is produced in aerobic cellular respiration, in the mitochondria, is essential for the plants for photosynthesis.
-Chloroplasts convert the sunlight (absorbed by the chlorophyll) into food, and then mitochondria make/produce energy out of the food in the form of ATP.

Note: Chlorophyll is present within the Chloroplast, and this chlorophyll absorbs/captures sunlight. Chloroplasts are roughly elliptical in shape, and are symmetrical across three axes. Mitochondria are generally oval/oblong in shape, but they have a tendency to change their shape over time.