Premium Essay

The Importance of Photosynthesis and Respiration

In:

Submitted By SubVet11
Words 749
Pages 3
The Importance of Photosynthesis and Respiration
Explain how photosynthesis and respiration are linked in order to provide you with energy from the food you eat: Photosynthesis is the process in which certain life forms are able to use sunlight to create energy. This energy is created by making carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll. Plants release large amounts of oxygen into the atmosphere as they produce much more than needed during the photosynthesis process. Aerobic respiration is an important process in life as we know it. This process further breaks down molecules and sugars using oxygen. During this process adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is created, used to store and transfer energy to cells throughout the body. (Aerobic respiration, 2010) Photosynthesis and aerobic respiration are both needed for each other to be able to perform their primary functions. One without the other would not work properly. Between both of these processes we receive three main sources; water, carbon dioxide and oxygen. Plants and animals require all three of these in order to live. Carbon dioxide and oxygen are a lot like a circle. Animals need oxygen to live and emit carbon dioxide, while plants need carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates and omit oxygen, thus completing the circle. (Photosynthesis, 2005) During the photosynthesis stage a plant produces oxygen that aerobic respiration will use in order to break molecules, during this process electrons are released creating energy and a substance called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is created. Through ATP, complex molecules are broken down into simple ones, allowing them to be used appropriately. (Photosynthesis, 2005)
In the absence of oxygen some cells and organisms can use glycolysis coupled to fermentation to produce energy from the sugar created by photosynthesis: Fermentation

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Lab for Paper

...NAME: Bobby Morris How do photosynthesis and cellular respiration compare? Follow the directions in the virtual lab to complete the photosynthesis and respiration puzzle. Make sure to read the virtual “book” (or use your textbook) to correctly order the processes. When complete check your results. Copy and paste your Screen Shot here. JOURNAL QUESTIONS 1. What is the importance of the light and dark reactions in photosynthesis? Light Dependent Reaction is the initial stage of Photosynthesis Where solar energy is converted into potential energy ,the light Dependent Reaction produces oxygen Dark Reaction takes place in Stroma of the chloroplasts in photosynthetic plants, Energy from light are stored has ATP and NADPH .in Calvin cycle this stored energy is used to make sugar molecule, the Calvin cycle is a complex theory of chemical reactions carried out in stroma. 2. Why is photosynthesis important to you? it’s the basis of life... the only way for plants and animals to exist is for plants to be alive because we are consumers- heteroautotrophs.. They are producers and photoautotrophs (they feed of themselves by the sun) they release O2 and produce sugars. Without photosynthesis life wouldn't really exist. 3. Why are photosynthesis and cellular respiration viewed as complementary processes? Because they both create ATP (Energy) they function as a circle one creating CO2 and using O2, and the other Using O2 and creating CO2 4. Describe...

Words: 307 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

World War Ii Through the 1970s

...10. | ATP, H2O and CO2 | 1.What is the importance of the light and dark reactions in photosynthesis? In light reactions, light is absorbed by chlorophyll in the thylakoid membrane and energizes the electrons. ATP is created from ADP and P. NADP accepts electrons and turns in to NADPH, which is energy. Once the light reactions have taken place, the light-independent, or ‘dark’ reaction occurs in the stroma, where CO2 is converted to sugar. The dark reaction entails the Calvin Cycle, where CO2 and energy from ATP is utilized to create sugar. (Mader, 2009) 2. What happens to food energy during photosynthesis? During cellular respiration? During photosynthesis, plants are actually making food for themselves by reducing the carbon dioxide in the air to carbohydrates after converting energy from sunlight (solar energy) into chemical energy. Living cells need to go through the process of cellular respiration to get energy from the food they eat in order to move, reproduce and function. Respiration releases the chemical energy stored in glucose, which is used by the cells to carry out their life activities (growing, moving, etc.). The process of cellular respiration is completed within the mitochondria. Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in green plants. Chlorophyll has the ability to trap the sun's radiant energy, and use it to rearrange those carbon dioxide and water molecules into glucose. 3. Why is photosynthesis important to you? It is important to the...

Words: 633 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Cell Biology

...Photosynthesis is the process by which plant cells capture and process the suns energy to make this energy available to all living things (Audesirk T, Audesirk G, Byers G, 2008). Photosynthesis controls all tropic chains and food on Earth. The photosynthesis process is described by the following equation: 6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2. This equation means carbon dioxide from the air and water combine in the presence of sunlight to form sugars: oxygen is released as a by-product of this reaction (Wessels & Hopson, n.d.). The first step in Photosynthesis is the “light reaction”. This is when the electromagnetic energy of sunlight is converted into the chlorophyll (the pigment that absorbs the sunlight) containing cells of photosynthetic organisms (Audesirk T, Audesirk G, Byers G, 2008). Chlorophyll is packed into stacks of membranes called grana where the sunlight is absorbed. The sunlight is then converted into chemical energy or Oxygen. This is then converted into sugars or glycolysis. If oxygen is present when the glycolysis process is complete, a type of cellular respiration called aerobic respiration is created. During the aerobic respiration a process called TCA is administered. The TCA cycle releases energy store in pyruvate. This energy is called ATP, which is the energy source that is used for nearly every task in the human body and other organisms. Anaerobic respiration is the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic respiration begins with the same...

Words: 873 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration Lab

...Name _________________________________ Date _____________ Period ______ Lab: Investigating Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Background: All organisms are dependent on a healthy carbon dioxide-oxygen balance. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are key processes in maintaining this balance. Plants, through the process of photosynthesis, use energy absorbed from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce sugars and oxygen. Animals and plants, through the process of cellular respiration, use oxygen and sugars to produce carbon dioxide, water, and the energy needed to maintain life. Purpose: To determine how carbon dioxide cycles through a biological system by performing the “Carbon Transfer Through Snails and Elodea” lab activity. Procedure: 1. Read through the background information and purpose. Create your own question for what you are investigating in this experiment. a. Problem (in question form): How are photosynthesis and cellular respiration related? 2. Obtain 8 test tubes of equal size/volume and number the test tubes 1-8. Fill each test tube with approximately 30 mL of deionized water. 3. Add enough bromothymol blue (BTB) indicator to solution to each test tube to change the water to a green color (about 3 mL). 4. What is Bromothymol Blue? Why is the BTB in the test tube green (Hint: recall the teacher demonstration)? Bromothymol blue is an indicator that changes color when carbon dioxide is present. Green in...

Words: 1222 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

How Color Affects the Carbonic Acid Levels

...Mustafa Abdalia, D'Mario Robinson, Alexis Downie BIOL 1441_Section 055; Corey Roelke; October 9, 14 Abstract: Photosynthesis is the process to receiving the sunlight energy of plants, algae and some bacteria to produce organic compounds to self-serving as food source for most organism on Earth (J. Stein Carter). Chemical energy stored in carbohydrates such as sugar molecules, and is synthesized from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis helps to maintain the oxygen concentration in the air and provide all the organic compounds and most of the energy needed for life on Earth (Bryant). The purpose of this project is to demonstrate that different colors of light affect the growth of plants in many different ways. We try to measure how different between levels of CO2 (carbon dioxide) produced from a plant. In this experiment, we use Elodea because it is an aquatic plant. Although photosysthesis is done differently with different plants, this process always begins when energy from light is absorbed by proteins called reaction centers that contain the pigment chlorophyll green continent. In plants, these proteins are held inside organelles called chlorophasts, which is the largest of the quality of the leaf cells. The color of the emiited light on individual plants is depending by the photosynthetic rates of them. It have the ability to use water for photosynthesis, producing CO2, and gradually accumulating in the atmosphere. We put NaOH (sodium hydroxide) to help measure what...

Words: 1368 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Good

...CHEMISTRY 1. CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES Students should be able to: (a) Define the following terms: o Element o Mixture o Compound o Symbol o Formulae o Atom o Molecule (b) Distinguish between elements, mixtures and compounds and give examples of each; (c) Recall that some metals are reactive and others are not; (d) Demonstrate an understanding of the reactivity series; (e) Arrange metals in order of reactivity (Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Copper, Silver and Gold); (f) Recall what are acids and bases; (g) State the importance of acids and bases; (h) Recall the colours of indicators (methyl orange, phenolphthalein, litmus) in acids and alkalis 2. THE LANGUAGE OF CHEMISTRY Students should be able to: (a) Describe physical changes giving examples; (b) Describe chemical changes giving examples; (c) Give the symbols and valencies of elements; (d) Work out the formulae of compounds; (e) Define the term radical and give the names and valencies of the following radicals: hydroxide, carbonate, sulfate, ammonium and nitrate; (f) Demonstrate an understanding of chemical reactions, reactants and products; (g) Represent chemical reactions by word equations; (h) Convert word equations to balanced chemical equations; (i) Write and balance chemical equations 3. CHEMICAL REACTIONS IN GENERAL Students should be able to: (a) Describe the reaction of selected metals (sodium, magnesium, iron and copper)with oxygen; (b) Describe...

Words: 721 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Asda

...Communication, Homeostasis & Energy Communication & Homeostasis Outline the need for communication systems within multicellular organisms, with reference to the need to respond to changes in the internal and external environment and to co-ordinate the activities of different organs. Organisms need to respond to external stimuli, e.g. temperature, oxygen concentration and levels of sunlight. These may be over time, e.g. winter fur to summer fur, or quickly, e.g. changing size of pupils. Internal environments change too- the build up of carbon dioxide as a result of respiration changes the pH of the tissue fluid, and therefore inhibits enzyme activity. Multicellular organisms need to coordinate different organs, so this requires a good communication system which will: • Cover the whole body • Enable cells to communicate with each other • Enable specific communication • Enable rapid communication • Enable both short and long-term responses. State that cells need to communicate with each other by a process called cell signalling. State that neuronal and hormonal systems are examples of cell signalling. Define the terms negative feedback, positive feedback and homeostasis. Negative feedback- A process in which any change in a parameter brings about the reversal of that change so that the parameter is kept fairly constant. Positive feedback- A process in which any change in a parameter brings about an increase in that change Homeostasis- The maintenance of a constant...

Words: 8191 - Pages: 33

Premium Essay

Variety Resources on Earth

...minerals, fossil fuels and living things. Air is needed by all living things to survive. The atmosphere is a layer of air that envelops the Earth. Air is a mixture of gases. Air contains gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are two very important gases that support life on Earth. a. Oxygen i. Used for respiration by living things ii. Used in combustion of materials iii. Used in industries iv. Released during photosynthesis. b. Carbon dioxide i. Used by green plants to carry out photosynthesis ii. Used in fire extinguishers iii. Released during respiration and combustion. Water covers a total of about three quarters of the Earth. The sources of water are oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, rainfall and ground water. Importance of water a. To animals/human i. It provides a medium for chemical process and body metabolism ii. It is the main component of the blood iii. It transports nutrient to all cell in the body iv. It caries excretory products to the kidneys for excretion. v. It helps to control the body temperature. b. To plants i. It helps to maintain the turgidity of plant cells. ii. It is used in photosynthesis. iii. Need for the germination of seeds. Water 1. 2. 3. Science Form 1 note GOOD LUCK Teacher zaidi@maher2010 iv. Dissolves minerals slats in the ground for absorbtion by the root of plants v. Helps to support aquatic plants vi. Cool down the plant (transpiration) Soil 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Soil refers to the outer layer...

Words: 1762 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Campbell Essential Biology

...6 Cellular Respiration: Obtaining Energy from Food Muscles in action. Sprinters, like all athletes, depend on cellular respiration to power their muscles. CHAPTER CONTENTS Energy Flow and Chemical Cycling in the Biosphere 92 Cellular Respiration: Aerobic Harvest of Food Energy 94 Fermentation: Anaerobic Harvest of Food Energy 101 CHAPTER THREAD Aerobic versus Anaerobic Lifestyles BIOLOGY AND SOCIETY Marathoners versus Sprinters THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE What Causes Muscle Burn? EVOLUTION CONNECTION Life before and after Oxygen 91 102 103 Aerobic versus Anaerobic Lifestyles BIOLOGY AND SOCIETY Marathoners versus Sprinters Track-and-field athletes usually have a favorite event in which they excel. Some runners specialize in sprints of 100 or 200 meters. Others excel at longer races of 1,500, 5,000, or even 10,000 m. It is unusual to find a runner who competes equally well in both 100-m and 10,000-m races; most runners are more comfortable running races of particular lengths. It turns out that there is a biological basis for such preferences. The muscles that move our legs contain two main types of muscle fibers: slow-twitch and fast-twitch. Slow-twitch muscle fibers can contract many times over a longer period but don’t generate a lot of quick power for the body. They perform better in endurance exercises requiring slow, steady muscle activity, such as marathons. Fast-twitch muscle fibers can contract more quickly and powerfully than slow-twitch fibers but also...

Words: 24897 - Pages: 100

Free Essay

Sci 230

...|[pic] |Course Syllabus | | |College of Natural Sciences | | |SCI/230 Version 7 | | |Introduction to Life Science | Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course applies a broad, conceptual understanding of biology. Students are introduced to scientific ideologies and concepts that not only shape our biological world, but also shape us as humans. Students examine the scientific method, evolution and biodiversity, the biology of cells, energy systems, the dynamics of inheritance, and the effect humans have on the environment. The text emphasizes methods and the theoretical foundations of ideas, while minimizing isolated facts. It stresses the integration of ideas, making connections that form our understanding of the living world. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies:...

Words: 2438 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Health Paper

...Ch. 10: Photosynthesis (Ps) • Ps is the process that converts solar energy into chemical energy – Directly or indirectly, Ps nourishes almost the entire living world – Ps occurs in plants, algae, certain other protists, and some prokaryotes • Autotrophs sustain themselves without eating anything derived from other organisms – Autotrophs are the producers of the biosphere, producing organic molecules from CO2 and other inorganic molecules – Almost all plants are photoautotrophs, using the energy of sunlight to make organic molecules • Heterotrophs obtain their organic material from other organisms – Heterotrophs are the consumers of the biosphere – Almost all heterotrophs, including humans, depend on photoautotrophs for food (organic molecules) and O2 © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Concept 10.1: Photosynthesis converts light energy to the chemical energy of food Ps stores energy in complex organic molecules, whereas cellular respiration releases it. • Chloroplasts are structurally similar to and likely evolved from photosynthetic bacteria – Their structural organization allows for the chemical reactions of Ps • Leaves are the major locations of Ps – Their green color is from chlorophyll, the green pigment within chloroplasts • Chloroplasts are found mainly in cells of the mesophyll, the interior tissue of the leaf – Each mesophyll cell contains 30–40 chloroplasts (see next slide’s figure) © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. • CO2 enters and O2 exits the...

Words: 1290 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Biology 101

...Chapter 1: • Name four properties that all life forms have. Order, Regulation, Growth and Development, and Energy Processing 2. Briefly discuss Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection. The process of descent with modification is Darwin’s take on evolution. The mechanism he proposed for this was called natural selection, which is another way of saying unequalled reproductive success. First, he observed overproduction and competition. Next, he observed individual variation. Finally Darwin concluded unequalled reproductive success, or those best suited for the surroundings survived. 3. What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory? A hypothesis is an uncertain answer to a question, therefore untrue, and able to be tested. Another way to look at it is a judged explanation. A theory has a much broader scope than a hypothesis. An element is a substance than cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical reaction Chapter 2: Chemistry for Biology • What is the difference between and element and a compound? An element is a substance than cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical reaction. Compounds are substances that contain two or more elements in a fixed ratio. 2. Draw a picture of an atom. Label the nucleus, protons, neutrons and electrons 3. What is a covalent bond? A covalent bond forms when two atoms share one or more pairs of outer-shell electrons. 4. Why does ice float? In liquid water, hydrogen bonds...

Words: 1491 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Biology

...AP Biology Exam Review: Lab Essays At least one essay (FRQ) on the exam will be based on an AP laboratory. To prepare for this question, review the objectives for all twelve laboratory exercises. The College Board does not necessarily expect that you have completed that lab, but rather that you have investigated the objectives of the lab. You may be asked to “design an experiment to determine….” You don’t necessarily need to create a new lab; if you have done an activity that would answer the question, simply describe it. For a good response, you should include the following. 1. State a hypothesis [as an “if…..(conditions), then….(results)” statement] Be sure your hypothesis is testable. 2. Identify the variable factor. 3. Identify the control. Be certain to explain the control for the experiment. 4. Hold all other variables constant. 5. Manipulate the variable. 6. State how you would measure the results. 7. Discuss the expected results. Relate the results to your hypothesis. 8. Include steps to replicate or verify. You may be asked to graph data. Be sure to use a graph that is appropriate for you data. Bar graphs are used when data points are discrete (not related to one another), while line graphs are used with the data are continuous. If there is a data point at zero, be certain to extend your line to 0, but do not extend the line to 0 if there is no data point at zero. Other points to keep in mind: ...

Words: 2702 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Past Pape

...CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL REPORT ON CANDIDATES’ WORK IN THE CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE JANUARY 2008 HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY Copyright © 2008 Caribbean Examinations Council ® St Michael Barbados All rights reserved -2HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY GENERAL PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS JANUARY 2008 The 2008 examination was the third January sitting of Human and Social Biology offered at the General Proficiency level. The format of the examination was the same as in previous years. Paper 01 consisted of 60 Multiple Choice items. Paper 02 consisted of ten compulsory structured questions in Section A, each worth ten marks, and four essay questions in Section B, each worth 20 marks. Candidates were required to answer any two of the four essay questions. General Comments There was significant improvement in candidate performance in 2008. Seventy-seven per cent of the candidates achieved Grades I – III in 2008 compared with 47 per cent in 2007. This improvement was also reflected in the performance in both profiles, Profile 1, Knowledge and Comprehension, and Profile 2, Use of Knowledge. While performance on Paper 01, the Multiple Choice paper, declined slightly, analysis of the equating items reveals that except for two items, the profiles are parallel and at the same level in 2008 and in 2006 (the year with which the items were equated). Candidate performance on Paper 02 improved significantly. This may be attributed to at least two factors: 1. This is the third...

Words: 3121 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Vce Biology Notes

...Biology Units 3 &4 Notes -Chapter 1- The Chemical Nature of Cells | |Protein |Carbohydrates |Fats |Nucleic acid | |Monomer |Amino acids |Monosaccharaide |Fatty acids, glycerol |Nucleotide | |Example |2o Amino acids |Glucose, Fructose, Ribose |Triglycerides |Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine | | | | |Steroids, Phospholipids |&Thymine/ Uracil | |Diagram | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Bonding (how units combine – |1st structure-strong covalent |Strong covalent glycoside |Rarely ever forms polymer |covalent bonds b/w sugar | |polymers ...

Words: 8693 - Pages: 35