Chloroplast DNA
Definition
Chloroplast DNA is the genetic material found in chloroplasts, the photosynthetic organelles of plants and algae.
Analogy
Think of chloroplast DNA as a recipe book specifically for photosynthesis. Just like how a recipe book contains instructions to make different dishes, chloroplast DNA has all the instructions needed for the plant or algae cell to perform photosynthesis.
Related terms
Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll pigments.
Chlorophyll: A green pigment, present in all green plants and in cyanobacteria, responsible for the absorption of light to provide energy for photosynthesis.
Thylakoid: A membrane-bound compartment inside chloroplasts and cyanobacteria. They are the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.
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