Mitochondria and chloroplasts are like the energy factories of our cells. They each have important jobs.

Mitochondria

• You can find mitochondria in almost all types of cells that have a nucleus, called eukaryotic cells.
• Their job is to break down sugar (glucose) during a process called cellular respiration. This helps create energy in the form of ATP, which is like the fuel for our cells.
• In simpler terms, the process looks like this:
  Sugar + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + ATP
• ATP is what cells use as their main source of energy.

Chloroplasts

• Chloroplasts are found in plant cells and some tiny organisms called protists.
• They take sunlight and use it to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugar (glucose) through a process called photosynthesis.
• This process can be summed up like this:
  Carbon Dioxide + Water + Sunlight → Sugar + Oxygen

Together, mitochondria and chloroplasts make sure our cells have all the energy they need to function!