Question

An energy company wants your help to reduce their use of fossil fuels by utilizing a light source. how can research into chloroplasts and mitochondria aid your reasoning in this matter?

Answer 1

Plants are a producer among organims, namely they produce their own energy. To this point, they need light; the energy of the sun is necessary for photosynthesis to happen and photosynthesis is the pathway that plants use in order to transform carbon dioxide and water into energy-rich organic compounds. Usually, these compounds can be used in place of fossil fuels. For example, condensed sugar cane extract has been an alternative form of fuel in Brazil and other developing countries.
Furthermore, chlorophyll is the light-receptor in plants; understanding how chlorophyll absorbs light could help us set up more efficient light panels that transform the solar energy into electric energy. Then, the study of mitochondria could help us devise optimal ways to utilize this energy. Mitochondria are the energy factories of our cells and their adaptations could inspire more effective and innovative energy plants in the world.