question

[Caseyk]

If animal cells contained chloroplasts would all cells in an animal contain them, or just some cells?

[Darby]

Could all cells use them? Do all cells in a tree have them?

[david23]

in terms of embryology the original stem cell would contain all the organelles existing in the subsequent cells. If this particular animal had chloroplast for energy storage, dont care why it’s there, lets just say it’s there, then most of the cells would have them.

[MrMistery]

david23, there would be no sense to have chloroplasts for energy storage. A chloroplast, by definition, is an organelle that carries out photosynthesis. Chlorophyll synthesis requires light, and if the chloroplast is not in sunlight anymore it slowly turns to an etioplast. So if we only had plastids for storage, they would probably be amyloplasts.

[choozi]

then people should see some time to take sunbath daily to remain their chloroplast active,, it could be a great problem then..

[Sophyclese]

I would have to say that if animal cells contained Chloroplast, then not all cells would contain Chloroplast. Chloroplast is used by plants to take in light energy and turn it into glucose (sugar). What would be the point of having Chloroplast in a Liver cell? A stomach cell? There wouldn’t be a use for Chloroplast in the liver or stomach, or any other internal organ. Sunlight doesn’t reach that far into the body for Chloroplast to be used.
Chloroplast would only be in the skin, if anything. If in skin cells, the Chloroplast will be able to absorb light and serve the same function as in plants.

Let me know if my post increased yourknowledge.
-Sophyclese

[jwalin]

a wonderful question. i had the same some time back and here is what i figured.
an organelle will not be able to function unless it gets the things it requires and a proper surrounding.
if you plan to somehow make humans produce chloroplast so we could do away with food or a stomach by genetics or biotech, like i had thought, its near impossible.
first of all a plant has completely different surroundings. the ciculatory system’s efficiency and working may need to be changed. skin should be provided with carbon dioxide at some timeand oxygen at the rest and the whole body should get oxygen
chnages in nervous system would be needed.
in short changing everything.
we would still perhaps need to eat because the amount of photosynthesis we would carry out would vary. and may not suffice.
but as nothing is impossible. i will be working on it after i finish my education. let me finish my schooling first. do tell me if you get anything new.

[jwalin]

thinking about it even further you would need many things that fill the needs of calvin cycle, light reactions also.

[jwalin]

providing a c4 pathway can be hard.
anything except c 4 would be disastrous for example c3 hope you know the reason
RUBP would be completely destroyed if exposed to excessive oxygen.

[jwalin]

its a hell lot of hard work. feel free to get back.

[JackBean]

why do you think, that nervous system would need to change? What does it has to do with photosynthesis or stuff like that?
As has been mentioned above, only the skin could participate in photosynthesis and as there is lot of veins, the CO2 supply could be high enough. Why do you wish tu supply oxygen?
On the other hand, this could be quite problem, as the human (animal) body is suited to relase CO2 in lungs and get there oxygen, which is released in the body.

[jwalin]

not changed but rather need a few addition.

[Author]

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