Read the passage. Then, select the text that best helps you understand the meaning of assimilated. The ability to transform light energy into chemical fuel is typically associated with plants and algae. However, in rare cases, animals show this ability, too. Several species of Sacoglossan sea slugs, for instance, can co-opt the photosynthetic ability of the algae they feed on. The slugs accomplish this by retaining rather than digesting the algae's chloroplasts, the cell parts primarily responsible for photosynthesis. The chloroplasts continue to photosynthesize even after they are assimilated, a curious phenomenon that forces us to reconsider our assumptions about what animals are capable of. Science is still in the early stages of understanding these so-called "solar-powered" animals. What is the meaning of assimilated as used in the passage? integrated made similar produced broken down mer
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To grasp the meaning of "assimilated" in this passage, think about how the Sacoglossan sea slugs effectively incorporate the chloroplasts from algae into their own cells. This process can be summed up as integrating the chloroplasts so that they can function as part of the slugs' biology, enabling them to photosynthesize as if they were plants. If you're still puzzling over "assimilated," it may help to visualize the slugs taking the chloroplasts like a chef meticulously adding special ingredients into a recipe, creating a new and remarkable dish that combines the best of both worlds. This integration allows the slugs to harness the chloroplasts' photosynthetic power while they continue to thrive!
