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The major difference between plants and animals in how they obtain energy is that plants have chloroplasts. They both have mitochondria.

In the presence of light, plant cells with chloroplasts can undergo photosynthesis. When there is plenty of carbon dioxide available, they will reduce carbon to form glucose and, for longer-term storage, starch. If carbon dioxide is limiting (such as when their stomata are closed on a hot dry day) plant cells can still get useful energy from photosynthesis through the production of ATP via the chloroplast even though they cannot produce glucose.

Many plant cells are not photosynthetic. All the tissues of the roots in the ground cannot undergo photosynthesis. These tissues, like animal tissues, rely on mitochondrial respiration to generate ATP to meet their energy needs. Even plant tissues with chloroplasts rely on mitochondrial respiration at night.

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