Which organelle is present in plant cells but not in typical animal cells?

• A. Mitochondria
• B. Nucleus
• C. Lysosome
• D. Chloroplast

Answer: (D)

Chloroplasts let plant cells carry out photosynthesis, turning light energy into chemical energy stored as glucose. They contain chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green color, and their own internal structures (thylakoids and stroma) for capturing light and synthesizing sugars. Because this capability is essential for plants and is not present in typical animal cells, chloroplasts are a hallmark of plant (and some algae) cells.

The other organelles listed are found in both plant and animal cells (mitochondria produce ATP in both; the nucleus contains genetic material in both). Lysosomes are more characteristic of animal cells for digesting waste, though plants use other vacuolar systems for similar tasks. The key point is that chloroplasts are unique to plants in the context of this comparison, making them the correct choice.