Chloroplasts are similar to mitochondria, but chloroplasts are only found in plants and other eukaryotic organisms that carry out photosynthesis (animal cells do not have chloroplasts). Mitochondria on the other hand are found in most eukaryotic cells.

Mitochondria generate most of the cells energy by making ATP (through the phosphorylation of ADP). This process occurs through the citric acid cycle (Kreb’s cycle). There are other functions of the mitochondria as well such as cell signaling, cell differentiation, and cell death to name a few. There are five structural features to the mitochondria: (1) outer mitochondrial membrane (2) intermembrane space (3) inner mitochondrial membrane (4) cristae (5) matrix.

The outer and inner membrane comprise the envelope the contains the cholorplasts inside. The stroma is the inside of the chloroplast and contains thylakoids that have chlorophyll molecules on their surface. The stacks of thylakoids are connected by stromal lamellae.