What are chloroplasts responsible for?

Chloroplasts are specialized organelles found in the cells of plants and certain algae, and their primary function is to carry out photosynthesis. This process involves converting light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy stored in glucose and other carbohydrates. During photosynthesis, chloroplasts absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil, using light energy to transform these substances into glucose while releasing oxygen as a byproduct.

This function is crucial for the survival of plant life and has significant implications for the entire ecosystem, as it forms the basis of the food chain. The presence of chlorophyll, the green pigment in chloroplasts, enables the capture of light energy, making these organelles vital for the energy conversion process that sustains plant life and, indirectly, most life on Earth.

The other options relate to different cellular processes. Cellular respiration is mainly carried out in mitochondria, membrane transport processes involve various transport proteins in the cell membrane, and protein synthesis occurs primarily in ribosomes. Each of these processes is important to cellular function, but none directly relate to the unique role of chloroplasts in photosynthesis.