Chloroplasts

It is necessary to note a bit about the form of chloroplasts, as you will encounter them throughout this tutorial. Inside a chloroplast is a matrix called the stroma. Enzymes are found in the stroma as well as grana stacks of coin-shaped discs, called thylakoids. It is within the thylakoids that photosynthesis takes place. Note that chloroplasts, like mitochondria, contain their own DNA. They do rely on proteins from the nucleus and are considered semi-autonomous organelles. Photosynthesis will be discussed in greater detail in the Plant Metabolism.