Which group of organisms is primarily responsible for performing photosynthesis?

• A. Viruses and prions
• B. Fungi and most protozoa
• C. Plants, algae, and some bacteria (such as cyanobacteria)
• D. All animals, including mammals and insects

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the process of photosynthesis: it is the biological process by which light energy is converted into chemical energy, producing glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water.
2. Identify which organisms have the cellular structures necessary for photosynthesis, primarily chloroplasts or similar pigments that capture light energy.
3. Recognize that plants and algae contain chloroplasts, which house chlorophyll, the pigment essential for capturing light energy.
4. Know that some bacteria, such as cyanobacteria, also perform photosynthesis using pigments similar to chlorophyll, even though they lack chloroplasts.
5. Eliminate groups that do not perform photosynthesis: viruses and prions are not living cells, fungi and most protozoa do not have chlorophyll, and animals lack the structures for photosynthesis.