Compare And Contrast Cellular Respiration And Photosynthesis
Cellular respiration and photosynthesis are fascinating, complicated, and important processes that are essential to life. Cellular respiration exists in animal and plants, whereas photosynthesis only exists in plants due to the chloroplast organelle. Cellular respiration starts with glucose, and oxygen and the photosynthesis process on the other hand starts off with the absorption of photons of light from the sun.While the end products of cellular respiration are carbon dioxide, water, and ATP, the end products of photosynthesis are oxygen, water, and glucose. Cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria whereas photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast. Cellular respiration occurs in three steps: Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, and Oxidative Phosphorylation.
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The total number of ATP’s made can range from 30 to 32 because it depends on whether the FADH or NADH is the one shuttling the energy.
NADH is more efficient, therefore if they are the ones shuttling the energy, the total ATP production will be closer to 32. While the first step of cellular respiration (Glycolysis) is a catabolism of carbon molecules, photosynthesis’s last step of the calvin cycle is anabolism of carbon molecules. Cellular respiration starts with Glycolysis in the cytosol, splitting the six carbon molecule into two pyruvate molecules, each consisting of three carbons. This process requires two ATP’s and eventually generates four ATP’s which results in a net of two ATP’s. Glycolysis also gains two NADH’s which are then shuttled as two FADH. NADH and FADH are high energy molecules that help make ATP. The next step is the Kreb cycle where each pyruvate is brought to the inner mitochondrial membrane and gives off NADH, FADH, and a little ATP. The next step is oxidative phosphorylation where electrons go through the electron transport chain and H+ protons are pumped out. The source of energy and source of electrons are carried by FADH and NADH from glucose. A concentration gradient is formed between the intermembrane space and inner
membrane. Lastly, ATP synthase, an enzyme, forms ATP, which will then be used later on. Photosynthesis, on the other hand is a two step process that consists of phosphorylation and the calvin cycle. There are two systems who absorb light from the sun, PS II and PS I. After, this energy follows a chain and either goes through Fd and recycles back to the cytochrome or goes and gets reduced from NADP to NADPH and then this then goes to the calvin cycle. While the first step of photosynthesis needs sunlight in order to start up, the calvin cycle is called a dark reaction because it does not need light and can occur all day. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are similar in the fact that H+ protons are pushed across a membrane and a concentration gradient is formed. However, while in cellular respiration, the protons go from the inner membrane to the intermembrane space, protons in photosynthesis go from the thylakoid lumen out of the thylakoid membrane. The final electron acceptor for respiration is oxygen to make water and that is why the process is called oxidative phosphorylation. The final electron acceptor for photosynthesis is NADP+ which makes NADPH. In conclusion, both processes are fundamental to life and are occurring constantly.
The total number of ATP’s made can range from 30 to 32 because it depends on whether the FADH or NADH is the one shuttling the energy.
NADH is more efficient, therefore if they are the ones shuttling the energy, the total ATP production will be closer to 32. While the first step of cellular respiration (Glycolysis) is a catabolism of carbon molecules, photosynthesis’s last step of the calvin cycle is anabolism of carbon molecules. Cellular respiration starts with Glycolysis in the cytosol, splitting the six carbon molecule into two pyruvate molecules, each consisting of three carbons. This process requires two ATP’s and eventually generates four ATP’s which results in a net of two ATP’s. Glycolysis also gains two NADH’s which are then shuttled as two FADH. NADH and FADH are high energy molecules that help make ATP. The next step is the Kreb cycle where each pyruvate is brought to the inner mitochondrial membrane and gives off NADH, FADH, and a little ATP. The next step is oxidative phosphorylation where electrons go through the electron transport chain and H+ protons are pumped out. The source of energy and source of electrons are carried by FADH and NADH from glucose. A concentration gradient is formed between the intermembrane space and inner
membrane. Lastly, ATP synthase, an enzyme, forms ATP, which will then be used later on. Photosynthesis, on the other hand is a two step process that consists of phosphorylation and the calvin cycle. There are two systems who absorb light from the sun, PS II and PS I. After, this energy follows a chain and either goes through Fd and recycles back to the cytochrome or goes and gets reduced from NADP to NADPH and then this then goes to the calvin cycle. While the first step of photosynthesis needs sunlight in order to start up, the calvin cycle is called a dark reaction because it does not need light and can occur all day. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are similar in the fact that H+ protons are pushed across a membrane and a concentration gradient is formed. However, while in cellular respiration, the protons go from the inner membrane to the intermembrane space, protons in photosynthesis go from the thylakoid lumen out of the thylakoid membrane. The final electron acceptor for respiration is oxygen to make water and that is why the process is called oxidative phosphorylation. The final electron acceptor for photosynthesis is NADP+ which makes NADPH. In conclusion, both processes are fundamental to life and are occurring constantly.