What is a chloroplast?

A chloroplast is an organelle within the cells of plants and certain algae that is the site
of photosynthesis, which is the process by which energy from the Sun is converted into chemical
energy for growth. A chloroplast is a type of plastid (a saclike organelle with a double
membrane) that contains chlorophyll to absorb light energy.

Where are chloroplasts found?

Chloroplasts are present in the cells of all green tissues of plants and algae. Chloroplasts are also
found in photosynthetic tissues that do not appear green, such as the brown blades of giant
kelp or the red leaves of certain plants. In plants, chloroplasts are concentrated particularly in
the parenchyma cells of the leaf mesophyll (the internal cell layers of a leaf).

Why are chloroplasts green?

Chloroplasts are green because they contain the pigment chlorophyll, which is vital
for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll occurs in several distinct forms. Chlorophylls a and b are the
major pigments found in higher plants and green algae.

Do chloroplasts have DNA?

Unlike most other organelles, chloroplasts and mitochondria have small
circular chromosomes known as extranuclear DNA. Chloroplast DNA contains genes that are
involved with aspects of photosynthesis and other chloroplast activities. It is thought that both
chloroplasts and mitochondria are descended from free-living cyanobacteria, which could
explain why they possess DNA that is distinct from the rest of the cell.
Characteristics of chloroplasts
Chloroplasts are a type of plastid—a round, oval, or disk-shaped body that is
involved in the synthesis and storage of foodstuffs. Chloroplasts are
distinguished from other types of plastids by their green colour, which results
from the presence of two pigments, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. A
function of those pigments is to absorb light energy for the process
of photosynthesis. Other pigments, such as carotenoids, are also present in
chloroplasts and serve as accessory pigments, trapping solar energy and
passing it to chlorophyll. In plants, chloroplasts occur in all green tissues,
though they are concentrated particularly in the parenchyma cells of
the leaf mesophyll.

Chloroplast Definition
The chloroplast, found only in algal and plant cells, is a cell organelle that
produces energy through photosynthesis. The word chloroplast comes from the
Greek words khloros, meaning “green”, and plastes, meaning “formed”. It has a
high concentration of chlorophyll, the molecule that captures light energy, and
this gives many plants and algae a green color. Like the mitochondrion, the
chloroplast is thought to have evolved from once free-living bacteria.

In which part of the chloroplast does photosynthesis occur?

In the thylakoids. Photosynthesis occurs in the thylakoids of the chloroplast.
Thylakoids contain chlorophyll and carotenoids, which are all pigment molecules
that can capture light energy and turn it into chemical energy.