Function of Plant Cells

Plants are unique amongst the eukaryotes, organisms whose cells have membrane enclosed nuclei and organelles, because they can manufacture their own food. Chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color, enables them to use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars and carbohydrates; chemicals the cell uses for fuel. Like the fungi, another kingdom of eukaryotes, plant cells have retained the protective cell wall structure of their prokaryotic ancestors. The basic plant cell has …

…they constitute the prokaryotes, the most primitive type of cell. Cyanobacteria contain the same kind of chlorophyll that is found in plants, but the chlorophyll is distributed throughout the cell rather than confined in chloroplasts. In many species, other pigments mask the chlorophyll and impart a bluish or sometimes reddish color. Some species are free-living, but most aggregate in colonies or form filaments. Reproduction is by simple cell division or by fragmentation of the filaments.