Which statement best describes energy transformations in mitochondria and chloroplasts?

Which statement best describes energy transformations in mitochondria and chloroplasts?

• A. Mitochondria produce ATP; chloroplasts capture light energy to synthesize glucose.
• B. Chloroplasts produce ATP; mitochondria use light energy to synthesize glucose.
• C. Both organelles perform photosynthesis.
• D. Both store genetic information.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how energy is transformed in different cell compartments. Mitochondria turn the chemical energy stored in nutrients into ATP, the cell’s immediate energy currency, through cellular respiration. Chloroplasts, on the other hand, capture light energy to drive photosynthesis, converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose, with the light-dependent reactions supplying ATP and NADPH for the sugar-building Calvin cycle. This makes the statement correct: mitochondria produce ATP, while chloroplasts capture light energy to synthesize glucose. Chloroplasts do not operate by producing ATP as their sole purpose, and mitochondria do not rely on light energy to make glucose. Also, not both organelles perform photosynthesis, and their primary roles aren’t about storing genetic information, even though both contain DNA.

The main idea here is how energy is transformed in different cell compartments. Mitochondria turn the chemical energy stored in nutrients into ATP, the cell’s immediate energy currency, through cellular respiration. Chloroplasts, on the other hand, capture light energy to drive photosynthesis, converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose, with the light-dependent reactions supplying ATP and NADPH for the sugar-building Calvin cycle.

This makes the statement correct: mitochondria produce ATP, while chloroplasts capture light energy to synthesize glucose. Chloroplasts do not operate by producing ATP as their sole purpose, and mitochondria do not rely on light energy to make glucose. Also, not both organelles perform photosynthesis, and their primary roles aren’t about storing genetic information, even though both contain DNA.