Difference Between Mitochondria and Chloroplast, Structure and Functions
Difference Between Mitochondria and Chloroplast, mitochondria produce cellular energy, while chloroplasts in plants and algae capture light energy for photosynthesis. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are plant cell organelles.
Krati Saraswat23 May, 2025
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Difference Between Mitochondria and Chloroplast: A eukaryotic cell has only three organelles with a double-layered structure: the nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplast. While these organelles share structural similarities, their primary difference is their location. Mitochondria are found inside cells in humans and plants, converting stored energy in molecules or other fuel sources into a form the cell can use.
On the other hand, chloroplasts are organelles present in the cells of plants and algae. They absorb light energy and store it as fuel molecules within the plant's tissues. The following article details the difference between mitochondria and chloroplasts in eukaryotic cells.| NEET Biology Syllabus | NEET Biology Diagrams |
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Difference Between Mitochondria and Chloroplast Overview
Mitochondria and chloroplasts are both cellular organelles present in plant cells. However, while mitochondria are found in plant and animal cells, chloroplasts are exclusive to plant cells. Mitochondria are the cell's energy generators, transforming oxygen and nutrients into ATP. Conversely, chloroplasts are responsible for facilitating photosynthesis in plant cells. Mitochondria are tiny organelles found throughout the cell and widely regarded as the cell's energy source.Difference Between Mitochondria and Chloroplast
Mitochondria and chloroplasts are eukaryotic cell organelles involved in energy conversion and metabolism. Chloroplasts participate in photosynthesis, which converts light energy into chemical energy, specifically glucose. Meanwhile, mitochondria generate energy in the form of ATP via oxidative phosphorylation. The table below outlines the specific difference between mitochondria and chloroplasts:|
Difference Between Mitochondria and Chloroplast |
||
|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Mitochondria | Chloroplasts |
| Location | Found in almost every eukaryotic cell, including animals and plants | Found only in some protists, algae, and plant cells |
| Size and Shape | Usually 1 to 10 micrometers in length, sausage-shaped | Typically 2 to 10 micrometers long, disc or oval-shaped |
| Membrane Structure | Outer and inner membrane, separated by an intermembrane space | Thylakoid membrane, inner membrane, and outer membrane |
| Replication | Binary fission replication | Binary fission or budding replication |
| Pigments | Doesn't contain any pigments | Contains pigments such as chlorophyll |
| DNA | Contains its own circular DNA, similar to bacterial DNA | Contains its own circular DNA, similar to bacterial DNA |
| Function | Uses oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP | Utilizes photosynthesis to convert light energy to chemical energy |
| Endosymbiotic Origin | Likely descended from an ancestral eukaryotic cell that engulfed a free-living bacterium | Likely descended from an ancestral eukaryotic cell that engulfed a free-living photosynthetic cyanobacterium |
| Oxygen Dependence | Utilizes oxidative phosphorylation, requiring oxygen for ATP production | Does not need oxygen, but some processes can use it |
| Enzymes and Pathways | Involved in the electron transport chain, citric acid cycle, and beta-oxidation | Involved in light-dependent and light-independent reactions of photosynthesis |
Mitochondria
Mitochondria in almost all eukaryotic cells serve as the cell's powerhouses by producing ATP, the energy currency. In addition to energy production, mitochondria contribute to cellular activities such as heat production, calcium storage for signalling, and cell growth and differentiation. A human cell typically contains 100-1000 mitochondria, each of which is essential for cell function. Inherited maternally, their DNA differs from the cell's nuclear DNA.Chloroplast
Chloroplasts in plants and green algae are specialized organelles housing chlorophyll for solar energy absorption. Their green colour stems from the pigments chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. Functioning as semi-autonomous entities, chloroplasts possess their DNA and consist of a double-layered structure. Variations in chloroplast number and size occur in different cell types, with shade-grown plants exhibiting larger chloroplasts than those in intense light. Chloroplasts vary, from plate-shaped in Chlorella to spherical or ovoid in higher plants.Difference Between Mitochondria and Chloroplast FAQs
What is the difference between mitochondria and chloroplast?
In plant cells, chloroplasts convert light energy into chemical energy, while mitochondria utilize this chemical energy to produce ATP. To achieve optimal carbon fixation and promote plant growth, these two organelles, each responsible for energy transformation, must coordinate their actions effectively.
Do chloroplasts possess DNA?
Chloroplasts, belonging to the plastid family, and mitochondria play central roles in ecosystem and biosphere energy cycles. Both organelles contain DNA organized into nucleoids, encoding crucial genes essential for photosynthetic and respiratory energy production.
What distinguishes mitochondria from mitochondrion?
The sole distinction between mitochondria and mitochondrion lies in grammatical number; mitochondrion is singular, and mitochondria is its plural form. Within a cell, mitochondria, responsible for nutrient breakdown into usable energy molecules, play a vital role in cellular energy processes.
Do chloroplasts and mitochondria share similar DNA?
The resemblance between the DNA of mitochondria, chloroplasts, and bacteria supports the endosymbiont theory. This theory proposes that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated as independent prokaryotic cells, highlighting a significant connection between their genetic material and that of bacteria.
Are mitochondria exclusive to females?
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) inheritance occurs maternally, passed from mother to child. While both sons and daughters inherit mtDNA, only daughters transmit it to their offspring. Consequently, both men and women can undergo mtDNA tests, as they inherit their mother's mtDNA.
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