Which organelle captures energy from sunlight during photosynthesis?

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Multiple Choice

Which organelle captures energy from sunlight during photosynthesis?

Explanation:
Photosynthesis starts with capturing light energy in chloroplasts, the organelles found in plant cells. Within the chloroplasts, pigments like chlorophyll sit in the thylakoid membranes and absorb sunlight to drive the light-dependent reactions, producing ATP and NADPH. Those energy carriers then power the Calvin cycle in the surrounding stroma to build sugars from carbon dioxide. This role is distinct from mitochondria, which generate ATP from chemical energy during respiration rather than from light. Ribosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum are involved in protein and lipid synthesis and trafficking, not in capturing light energy.

Photosynthesis starts with capturing light energy in chloroplasts, the organelles found in plant cells. Within the chloroplasts, pigments like chlorophyll sit in the thylakoid membranes and absorb sunlight to drive the light-dependent reactions, producing ATP and NADPH. Those energy carriers then power the Calvin cycle in the surrounding stroma to build sugars from carbon dioxide. This role is distinct from mitochondria, which generate ATP from chemical energy during respiration rather than from light. Ribosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum are involved in protein and lipid synthesis and trafficking, not in capturing light energy.

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