Chloroplasts
Although the term chloroplasts has a lot of popularity, it has never been given much importance, which is an extremely serious mistake, since thanks to these disc-shaped organelles we enjoy many benefits that plants provide us.
What are chloroplasts?
Chloroplasts are distinguished as organelles , which are the different microbiological structures found within the cytoplasm of cells , which are responsible for what we know as photosynthesis . It is enclosed or limited, that is, surrounded by two membranes that contain vesicles , in which pigments and a diversity of molecules are structured and organized that gradually transform light energy into chemical energy, that is, they convert the external factors, so that they get used to the body and adapt to it, bringing this one to life. Chloroplasts are found mostly in plants , since as previously expressed, they are responsible for photosynthesis , although in recent years theories have been developed that some animals eat plants by a transitional method, plant-animal , you can go on to acquire them only by ingestion, however, these theories have not been scientifically proven so, until now, they are not valid.
- Source
- features
- Types
- Function
- Structure
- Location
- Pigments
- Why Animal Cells Do Not Have Chloroplasts
- What would happen to plants if they did not have chloroplasts
- Importance
Source
It is considered that the origin of the chloroplasts starts from what are the algae that were previously colored between blue and green, this origin is proposed by a scholar with the surname Mereschkowsky in 1905 , however, after an observation that was made in 1883 by Schimper’s hand it was emphasized that the chloroplasts resemble the bacteria called cyanobacteria.
It was found that these plant molecules have their own genetic load and are closely linked to the energy metabolism of the plants to which they belong.
features
Chloroplasts are not easy to identify, however, they have peculiar characteristics that easily distinguish them, which are the following:
- It is surrounded by two membranes and inside these it has a basic chemical liquid.
- It has small lamellae inside that are called lamellae .
- Helps with the photosynthesis process .
- It is shaped like a disk .
Types
Chloroplasts as such do not have a type of branching or types thereof , however, by focusing on plastids we can find a great variety of them, which are the following:
- Plasto.
- Propplast.
- Ethioplast.
- Chromoplast.
- Leukoplast.
- Amyloplast.
- Statolith.
- Oleoplast.
- Apicoplast.
- Gerontoplast.
Function
The main purpose of chloroplasts is to help photosynthesis run more smoothly; This happens thanks to the fact that the chlorophyll molecules , which are the ones that absorb light, are closely linked with the lamellae , which are lamellae that are connected deep within the chloroplasts, in this way the light is already received Through complex chemical processes it is reduced to a chemical energy that spreads in the plant to nourish it and ensure that it has an optimal life cycle.
Structure
Chloroplasts have a circular or disk shape , they have a diameter of 4 to 6 m and are 10 m long or more , they are found mostly in the cells of the leaves, which is the place where they receive the most light and can effectively comply with its operation, when observing a plant with the naked eye they cannot be determined, however, it is possible that in a single cell there are between 40 and 50 chloroplasts , so it could be said that in each square millimeter of the surface of a plant are about five hundred thousand chloroplasts.
Among the membranes that cover it is hidden, in its depths, a substance called stroma , which can be distinguished through a complex network of tiny discs called lamellae, these most of the time can be found stacked as if they were saucers, when this happens they tend to be called grana .
Location
Most of the chloroplasts can be found in the leaves of the plants , since in these extensions of the same it is that there is a better reception to the light, however, these develop in any part in which there is an entrance of luminosity optimal, so that the chloroplasts can fulfill their function as far as photosynthesis is concerned.
Pigments
Thanks to chlorophyll, chloroplasts enjoy having pigments , this is what sometimes causes the visual effect that plants are in other colors, thus modifying the color of the light by inertia with the simple fact that it is reflect on the leaves; in this way the typical colors of the luminosity are transformed into others.
Why Animal Cells Do Not Have Chloroplasts
Animal cells themselves do not need the photosynthesis process to speed up their growth and full development, which is why they do not have chloroplasts, however, in recent years the hypothesis has been created that some animals, especially those that consume plants, they may be able to acquire them, however, it is not scientifically proven.
What would happen to plants if they did not have chloroplasts
If plants did not simply have chloroplasts, they could not react, or go through the photosynthesis process, which would radically impede their growth process , since they would not obtain enough chemical energy because chloroplasts are not found to transform external energy into another that is beneficial for its optimal development.
Importance
For plants, chloroplasts are essential , since in part they owe their growth to them, without these we would not be able to enjoy the innate beauty of plants.
