Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Chloroplasts are a part of some cells that uses photosynthesis to make food for the cell.
Function
- The chloroplasts make food for the plant using photosynthesis.
About Chloroplasts
- Chloroplasts are found in many plant cells and in Euglena.
- Chloroplasts contain a green pigment called chlorophyll which allows it to perform photosynthesis.
- The chloroplast is where photosynthesis takes place in a plant.
- Some specialised plant cells do not have chloroplasts, such as Root Hair Cells. This is because they are are underground so they don't get any light for photosynthesis.
Examples
Palisade Cell | Spongy Mesophyll Cell | Euglena |
A cell has an elongated shape and lots of chloroplasts for photosynthesis. | A cell found in the middle of a leaf. | A unicellular organism that is neither plant nor animal. |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Chloroplasts are green organelles found in plant cells that contain chlorophyll and make food for the plant by photosynthesis.
Function
- The chloroplasts make food for the plant by photosynthesis.
About Chloroplasts
- Chloroplasts have their own DNA inside them which suggests they were once an independent organism that migrated into the early eukaryotic cells that became plant cells.
- Chloroplasts are found in most plant cells and in some protists such as Euglena.
- Many chloroplasts are found in the cells in the leaves of plants, particularly the palisade cells.
- Chloroplasts contain a green pigment called chlorophyll which allows it to perform photosynthesis.
- The chloroplast is where photosynthesis takes place in a plant.
- Some specialised plant cells do not have chloroplasts, such as Root Hair Cells. This is because they are are underground so they don't get any light for photosynthesis.
Examples
Palisade Cell | Spongy Mesophyll Cell | Euglena |
A cell has an elongated shape and lots of chloroplasts for photosynthesis. | A cell found in the middle of a leaf. | A unicellular organism that is neither plant nor animal. |
References
AQA
- Chloroplast, pages 14, 19, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Chloroplasts, page 11, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Chloroplasts, page 7, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Chloroplasts, pages 11, 57, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Chloroplasts, pages 24, 144, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
- Chloroplasts, pages 24, 158, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
- Chloroplasts, pages 6, 96, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
Edexcel
- Chloroplasts, pages 11, 47, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Chloroplasts, pages 12, 69, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Chloroplasts, pages 24, 198, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel
- Chloroplasts, pages 5, 124, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel
- Chloroplasts, pages 5, 86, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel