Bio 240 - Photosynthesis and Respiration Paper

Photosynthesis and Respiration Paper

Kaylee Thompson

BIO/240

4/3/17

        David Ormond

Photosynthesis and Respiration Paper

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which organisms like algae and green plants produce their food through sunlight. During this process, light energy is converted to chemical energy. Organisms that go through the photosynthesis process to produce their own food are called photoautotroph. During the photosynthesis process there are two main steps the light dependent reaction and the Calvin Cycle or it’s also known as the light independent reaction. Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts. Plants store glucose molecules for energy. Photosynthesis uses water and carbon dioxide to form oxygen as a byproduct.

The Calvin Cycle

During the Calvin Cycle sunlight is not needed for this reaction, it can occur at night. Stored ATP is used to reduce and fix carbon dioxide to make the carbohydrates through a combination with electrons drawn out from water. The end product result of the light independent reaction, photosynthesis process is the results of the series of varied reactions.

Light Dependent Reaction

The reaction happens during daytime hours only, when the sun is out. The chorophyll which can be found in the chloroplasts of plants takes the light energy from the sunlight. When electrons are removed from water, some of the light energy that is being stored takes the form of adenosine triphosphate or ATP.

Cellular Respiration.

For organisms to function properly, cells must take energy from foods that are in the form of adenosine triphosphate or ATP. During cellular respiration there are three stages that happen during this process.

Glycolysis

The first stage in the cellular respiration process, glycolysis means the breakdown of something sweet (“Glycolysis”, n.d.). Glycolysis is the breakdown of six complex carbon sugar compounds, these compounds are broken down in to three simple carbon sugars. During this stage of the process there are two adenosine triphosphate molecules, pyruvic acid and electrons that will have been created.

Krebs Citric Acid Cyle

The second stage in the cellular respiration process is the Krebs citric acid cycle.  According to “ Microbiology Info” (2014-2016), “in prokaryotic cells, the citric acid cycle occurs in the cytoplasm; in eukaryotic cells, the citric acid cycle takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria” (para. 1). During this process the steps produce different compounds that are able to store high energy electrons. The compounds that have been produced consist of double adenosine triphosphate molecules. These compounds are also known as nicotinamide adenine or NAD and Flavin adenine dinucleotide or FAD, these compounds are decreased during the process. The decreased forms of these compounds are able to carry the high energy electrons to the next stage of the process. The krebs citric acid cycle needs oxygen but it does not use it right away