logo
AAT Bioquest

What are the differences between chlorophyll and chloroplast?

Posted August 25, 2022


Answer

Basis of differentiation 

Chlorophyll 

Chloroplast 

Definition

Chlorophyll is the pigment involved in photosynthesis, which also imparts green color to plants

Chloroplast is an organelle located within plant cells and is the site of photosynthesis

Presence

Found in all plants, algae and cyanobacteria

Found in all plants and algae

Location 

Located in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts

Located throughout the plant cell but mostly in the leaves of a plant

Types

Five types – chlorophyll a, b, c, d, f

No types

Function 

Traps solar energy and carries out photosynthesis 

Provide a location for both stages of  photosynthesis to occur

Found as part of

Chloroplast

Plant cell

Genetic material 

Lack DNA 

Has its own DNA organelle called cpDNA

Additional resources

Variations in chloroplast movement and chlorophyll fluorescence among chloroplast division mutants under light stress