Humans cannot make their own food because we do not have things that plants have such as chlorophyll. The carbon dioxide and water are transformed into a totally new substance that contains energy — it is food in the form of sugar. This chemical change that happens inside plants is called photosynthesis.

Without chloroplasts, plants would not be able to get their energy from the sun and would cease to survive, leaving us without food. On the other hand, without mitochondria, animals would be lacking in cellular energy and would also fail to survive.

Chloroplast Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts are present in the cells of all green tissues of plants and algae. Chloroplasts are also found in photosynthetic tissues that do not appear green, such as the brown blades of giant kelp or the red leaves of certain plants.

Because of their shape (elongated and cylindrical) palisade cells contain many chloroplasts Palisade cells contain 70 percent of all chloroplasts. This allows palisade cells to absorb as much as is needed for the process of photosynthesis.

Nutrition in Plants All living organisms require food. Plants can make their food themselves but animals including humans cannot. They get it from plants or animals that eat plants. Thus, humans and animals are directly or indirectly dependent on plants.

All plants need these seven things to grow: room to grow, the right temperature, light, water, air, nutrients, and time.

In order to survive, animals need air, water, food, and shelter (protection from predators and the environment); plants need air, water, nutrients, and light. Every organism has its own way of making sure its basic needs are met.

Living things need need air, water, food and shelter to survive. There is a difference between needs and wants. Students will be able to identify the four things that organisms need to survive.

The seven characteristics of life include:

• responsiveness to the environment;
• growth and change;
• ability to reproduce;
• have a metabolism and breathe;
• maintain homeostasis;
• being made of cells; and.
• passing traits onto offspring.

In order to survive, all living things need air, water, and food. Animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, which provides them with the energy they need to move and grow. An animal’s home (habitat) must provide these basic needs (air, water and food) along with shelter from bad weather and predators.