Why do plants need both a chloroplasts and mitochondria?

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Chloroplasts are present in photosynthetic plants and is responsible for making the food of the plant. On the other hand, mitochondria also known as the power house of the cell, uses this oxygen in order to create ATP which is used for various purposes like active transport, releasing minerals and many more in plants.



Then, what is the function of the mitochondria Why do plants need both a chloroplasts and mitochondria?

Cells need both chloroplasts and mitochondria to undergo both photosynthesis AND cell respiration. After photosynthesis, which chloroplasts are needed for, which yields oxygen and glucose, plants need to break down the glucose and they use cell respiration to do this, which happens in the mitochondria.

Subsequently, question is, how do chloroplasts and mitochondria work together in plants? How do the chloroplast and mitochondria work together to keep plant cells alive? Chloroplasts convert sunlight into food during photosynthesis, then mitochondria makes energy out of the food in the form of ATP. where critical chemical reactions occur in the cell that allow for the release of energy from food.

Also, what is the purpose of plants having mitochondria if they have chloroplasts?

Key points: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of the cell, breaking down fuel molecules and capturing energy in cellular respiration. Chloroplasts are found in plants and algae. They're responsible for capturing light energy to make sugars in photosynthesis.

Why do chloroplasts and mitochondria have their own DNA?

Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA genomes because they are descendants of prokaryotes that were taken up into eukaryotes a long time ago and became endosymbionts. They brought advantages to the eukaryotic host cell, such as photosynthesis and / or ATP energy generation.

39 Related Question Answers Found

What is the function of the vacuole?

Vacuoles are membrane-bound sacs within the cytoplasm of a cell that function in several different ways. In mature plant cells, vacuoles tend to be very large and are extremely important in providing structural support, as well as serving functions such as storage, waste disposal, protection, and growth.

What is chloroplast made of?

Chloroplasts. The chloroplast is made up of 3 types of membrane: A smooth outer membrane which is freely permeable to molecules.

Do plants feel pain?

We do know that they can feel sensations. Studies show that plants can feel a touch as light as a caterpillar's footsteps. But pain, specifically, is a defense mechanism. But plants don't have that ability—nor do they have nervous systems or brains—so they may have no biological need to feel pain.

What does the cytoplasm do in a plant cell?

Cytoplasm contains molecules such as enzymes which are responsible for breaking down waste and also aid in metabolic activity. Cytoplasm is responsible for giving a cell its shape. It helps to fill out the cell and keeps organelles in their place.

Do plants need both mitochondria and chloroplasts?


It is important to note that plants need both chloroplasts and mitochondria because without one organelle say the mitochondria the entire cell would be unable to carry out its life activities. Thus, both organelles are equally important for normal cellular function.

Where do mitochondria come from?

The endosymbiotic hypothesis for the origin of mitochondria (and chloroplasts) suggests that mitochondria are descended from specialized bacteria (probably purple nonsulfur bacteria) that somehow survived endocytosis by another species of prokaryote or some other cell type, and became incorporated into the cytoplasm.

What is the function of the chloroplast?

Chloroplasts absorb sunlight and use it in conjunction with water and carbon dioxide gas to produce food for the plant. Chloroplasts capture light energy from the sun to produce the free energy stored in ATP and NADPH through a process called photosynthesis.

Can plants survive without chloroplasts?

In a nutshell: plants would not be able to perform photosynthesis. And since the oxygen in our atmosphere is there because the photosynthesis process in plants yields it as a “waste product”, not having chloroplasts in plants would also cause the eventual death of all animals.

What would happen if the mitochondria was removed from a plant cell?

Cells that normally need many mitochondria will quickly die if the lose them. Thus a cell that normally has only a few mitochondria and does not require oxygen respiration for survival, should it lose all of its mitochondria, will also lose its ability to undergo apoptosis.

What is mitochondria in plants?


Mitochondria (or mitochondrion, if there is only one) are small, organ-like structures inside of cells (known as organelles), and they are the power house of the cell. They take raw material and transform it into a form of energy that the plant can easily use.

Where did mitochondria and chloroplasts come from?

Mitochondria and chloroplasts likely evolved from engulfed prokaryotes that once lived as independent organisms. At some point, a eukaryotic cell engulfed an aerobic prokaryote, which then formed an endosymbiotic relationship with the host eukaryote, gradually developing into a mitochondrion.

Why do plant cells have a mitochondria?

Explanation: Plant cells require mitochondria to produce energy for the cell, usually through photosynthesis during the day. When the sun sets and the energy from sunlight is lost, the plant continues on through the night producing energy through cellular respiration.

What are the structural similarities and differences of chloroplast and mitochondria?

Difference between Chloroplast and Mitochondria:
Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and are engaged in photosynthesis whereas mitochondria lack chlorophyll and are engaged in cellular respiration. 2. Inner membrane of chloroplast forms thylakoids whereas inner membrane of mitochondria folds to form cristae.

How do the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration compare?

Photosynthesis involves the use of energy from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen. Cellular respiration uses glucose and oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. To emphasize this point even more, the equation for photosynthesis is the opposite of cellular respiration.

Are mitochondria more important than chloroplasts?


Mitochondria are responsible for cellular respiration and energy metabolism. Conversely, Chloroplast is found only in green plants and in few algae, they are the sites of photosynthesis. This organelle of the cell is much more complex and larger than the mitochondria.

What came first mitochondria or chloroplasts?

Mitochondria evolved before chloroplasts. We know this because Mitochondria form a monophyletic group: e.g. all life with mitochondria traces back to a single common ancestor (source).

What will happen to plants that are kept in the dark?

When the plant is kept under the dark it will die soon as it cannot perform photosynthesis due to lack of sunlight.