Why can’t we splice the genes from plants for chlorophyll into humans and then we’d never need to eat again?
Compared to how much we use, the amount of sunlight hitting our skin doesn't actually contain all that much energy. Even assuming 100% efficiency (the theoretical maximum energy capture efficiency for photosynthesis is about 11%), The amount of energy you could claim from sunlight would be less t…
The Short Answer
Compared to how much we use, the amount of sunlight hitting our skin doesn't actually contain all that much energy. Even assuming 100% efficiency (the theoretical maximum energy capture efficiency for photosynthesis is about 11%), The amount of energy you could claim from sunlight would be less than a bottle of soda. And that's if you were just standing around naked outside all day on a sunny day at the equator.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Energy, amount, sunlight
This explanation focuses on energy, amount, sunlight and spans 69 words across 3 sentences. The depth is typical for Biology questions (category average: 72 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Compared to how much we use, the amount of sunlight hitting our skin doesn't actually contain all that much energy.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 3 connected points.
How This Compares in Biology
Ranked #229 of 500 Biology questions by answer depth (top 47%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why we splice the genes from plants for chlorophyll into humans and then we'd never need to eat again?
Compared to how much we use, the amount of sunlight hitting our skin doesn't actually contain all that much energy. Even assuming 100% efficiency (the theoretical maximum energy capture efficiency for photosynthesis is about 11%), The amount of…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Biology questions?
This is an above-average answer at 69 words, ranked #229 of 500 Biology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are energy, amount, sunlight.
What approach does this answer take to explain we splice the genes from plants for chlorophyll into humans ?
The explanation uses direct explanation across 69 words. It is categorized under Biology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.