Chloroplasts in Human Beings
- Thread starter Arkantos
- Start date
1) Yes. Every other science fiction author in the history of mankind.
2) There isn't much point. Photosynthesis is a fine source of energy, but only if you aren't planning on doing anything with your life besides sitting there in the sun and growing. Little things like walking around or maintaining high body temperatures cost far more energy than photosynthesis would ever net you. Little things like clothing and houses might also get in the way.
3) If you are going to go to the trouble of making a new thread, please give it a little bit more substance than you did here.
2) There isn't much point. Photosynthesis is a fine source of energy, but only if you aren't planning on doing anything with your life besides sitting there in the sun and growing. Little things like walking around or maintaining high body temperatures cost far more energy than photosynthesis would ever net you. Little things like clothing and houses might also get in the way.
3) If you are going to go to the trouble of making a new thread, please give it a little bit more substance than you did here.
Arkantos said:
You might be interested to know that we already have the animal equivalent of chloroplasts; they are called mitochondria.
"Mitochondria are found in the respiring eucaryotes while the chloroplasts are found in the photosynthetic eucaryotic organisms. Both these structures contain an internal membrane system of characteristic structure and function. The internal membrane of the mitochondria (cristae) contains the respiratory electron transport system while the internal membrane of chloroplasts, called the thylakoid, has the photosynthetic pigments, electron transport system as well as photochemical reaction canters.
In addition these structures also contain an organelle characteristic type of DNA and a protein synthesizing apparatus. Unlike in the nucleus, the organelle DNA is not associated with histones. The number of copies of these structures per cell depends on the cultural conditions and varies from 120 mitochondria and 40-50 chloroplasts per cell. These structures contain ribosomes which resemble the bacterial ribosomes and the process of protein synthesis in these organelles is similar to that in the Procaryotic cells. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are formed by the division of the preexisting organelles"
http://www.microbiologyprocedure.com/microbial-cells/mitochondria-and-chloroplasts.htm
To be fair, mitochondria are not the animal equivalent of chloroplasts, as both have different functions. (Besides, plants possess mitchondria too). And while the one is needed for energy production via photosynthesis, the other is involved in (aerobic) respiration.
The common things between those two is that are likely to be derivatives of bacterial endosymbionts.
The common things between those two is that are likely to be derivatives of bacterial endosymbionts.
Ophiolite
Valued Senior Member
Be fair guys. Just because the idea wasn't original to humanity doesn;t mean it wasn't original to Arkantos.
Anyone can do a put down of the lightweight, off-the-cuff posts that seem to abound here, but surely we can be more constructive.
I'd far rather do a put down of samcdkey's post, which while extremely erudite was, as CharonZ diplomatically pointed out, completely irrelevant.
Anyone can do a put down of the lightweight, off-the-cuff posts that seem to abound here, but surely we can be more constructive.
I'd far rather do a put down of samcdkey's post, which while extremely erudite was, as CharonZ diplomatically pointed out, completely irrelevant.