Chloroplasts: Structure, Purpose in Photosynthesis and their Bacterial Origins is a part of the VCE Biology area of study ‘How do Cellular Processes Work?’. It is a part of the subtopic ‘Photosynthesis’. Chloroplasts are plastids. These are plant organelles which store energy and synthesise metabolic materials. When light is absorbed by chlorophylls, they emit electrons which they obtain from water. These electrons cause the release of hydrogen ions across the membrane which drives the electrochemical gradient to produce ATP. Scientists theorise that chloroplasts developed from the fusion of two prokaryotic organisms. Both organisms formed a symbiotic relationship, where one became the eukaryotic cell, and the other became the chloroplast.
What is a Chloroplast?
Watch this video to learn more!
Where Did Chloroplasts Come From?
Watch this video to learn about endosymbiotic theory, and the origin of chloroplasts.
Looking for more resources? Check out more of our VCE Biology resources here!
