[Sahith]

Sahith asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Can chlorophyll can be introduced into our bodies, so that we can avoid hunger?

What do you think?

[RD]

Can chlorophyll can be introduced into our bodies

Only if you are a sea slug  ...

The only known animals that practice kleptoplasty are sea slugs in the clade Sacoglossa.  Several species of Sacoglossan sea slugs capture intact, functional chloroplasts from algal food sources, retaining them within specialized cells lining the mollusc's digestive diverticula. ... This very unusual ability has led to these sacoglossans being referred to as "solar-powered sea slugs".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleptoplasty

Sloths have it on their bodies ...

The sloth’s body is itself a habitat. In addition to various invertebrates, the sloth’s shaggy coat, or pelage, harbours two species of blue-green algae, each hair having grooves that foster algal growth. The algae give the sloth a greenish hue, making it one of few mammals with a green coat—excellent camouflage for a slow-moving tree dweller.

http://www.britannica.com/facts/5/740908/blue-green-algae-as-discussed-in-cecropia-tropical-tree

[thedoc]

Go to the podcast page.
or [chapter podcast=2579 track=10.05.09/Naked_Scientists_Show_10.05.09_6223.mp3] Listen to the Answer Now[/chapter] or [download as MP3]

[doppler1]

I guess that it could be a conceivable possibility in a poor colour copy of Avatar....just kidding. It would be cool to be able to create energy in its "greenest form" ourselves efficiently.