In what part of the cell does photosynthesis occur?

Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast, which is a specialized organelle found in plant cells and some protists. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, the pigment that captures light energy from the sun. This light energy is then used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen during the photosynthetic process. The chloroplast has a double membrane structure and contains its own DNA, which is indicative of its endosymbiotic origin, believed to have evolved from free-living photosynthetic bacteria.

The significance of chloroplasts in photosynthesis cannot be overstated, as they are the essential site where the light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle take place, ultimately allowing plants to produce organic compounds that serve as energy sources for themselves and other organisms in the ecosystem. Other cellular components, such as the cytoplasm, ribosomes, and nucleus, play different roles within the cell but are not where photosynthesis takes place.