Photosynthesis Research Paper
1. Explain how photosynthesis and respiration are linked in order to provide you with energy from the food you eat.
Include in your paper:
•Complete descriptions of photosynthesis and aerobic respiration. •Describe how these two processes are linked between plants and animals based on the reactants and products (water, carbon dioxide, glucose and oxygen) of both pathways. •Include a description of how energy is transferred from sunlight to ATP, from ATP to sugars, and from sugars to your cells.
Photosynthesis is the process whereby plants utilize C02, H2O and Sunlight to create food in the form of a sugar called glucose. As a byproduct of this reaction, the plants also release oxygen.
Respiration is the process where cells …show more content…
use glucose, to release stored energy. In the process, cells release CO2.
Photosynthesis takes place in Chloroplasts which are found mostly in the plant leaves.
Chloroplasts are organelles composed of a phospholipid inner and outer membrane. Between these 2 membranes is an intramembranous space. Inside the inner membrane is a fluid called the stroma which contains thylakoids, where photosynthesis takes place.
The thylakoids are shaped like pancakes and are bounded by a membrane. Photosynthesis takes place on the thylakoid membrane. The thylakoid membrane has proteins embedded in it. The pigment chlorophyll is embedded in specialized proteins within the thylakoid membrane. Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light, but not green. This is what gives plants their green color.
When light strikes chlorophyll, it absorbs one photon and loses one electron. The electron is now in a higher state of potential energy and is unstable. This electron is passed down a chain of modified chlorophyll molecules creating an electron transport chain. The electron is passed to NADP, reducing it to NADPH. The energy released by reducing the potential energy of the electron is used by enzymes to pump hydrogen atoms inside the membrane. This creates a proton gradient. The proton gradient is caused by a higher concentration of protons inside the membrane than outside. This proton gradient is then used to add a phosphate onto ADP, turning it into ATP. The net effect of this process is to store the energy of the proton gradient in
ATP.
2H2O + 2NADP+ + 3ADP + 3Pi → O2 + 2NADPH + 3ATP
(Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration, 2001)
NADPH and ATP are then used in the Calvin Cycle to produce Glucose. The net reaction therefore looks like this:
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy --> 6O2 + C6H12O6
(Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration, 2001)
Respiration takes glucose and breaks it down using Oxygen to produce energy in the reaction: 6O2 + C6H12O6 --> 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy
(Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration, 2001)
Respiration takes place within the plant, giving it energy to perform living functions. Respiration also occurs in many animals, including humans who eat the plants or another animal that has eaten the plant and then use the energy stored in glucose to perform living functions.
Photosynthesis and respiration are the basis of almost all life on earth. Photosynthesis produces glucose, which is used by the plants and animals to derive energy. Photosynthesis also results in the production of Oxygen. Oxygen is a required factor in aerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration is many times more powerful and efficient than anaerobic respiration which makes the larger more diverse life on earth possible.
There are actually 3 stages of cellular respiration 1) Glycolysis-This takes glucose and breaks it down into pyruvate. This part does not require oxygen and takes place in the cytosol or fluid inside the cell. The result is 2 molecules of ATP and pyruvate. The pyruvate is then oxidized into Acetyl COA, if oxygen is present. 2) Kreb Cycle-This is an aerobic process and it takes the Acetyl COA and oxidizes it to CO2 and creates NADH. The Kreb Cycle takes place in the mitochondria. 3) Electron Transport Chain-The electron transport chain takes place along the cristae or inner membrane wall of the mitochondria. It takes the NADH and oxidizes it, producing a proton gradient which is used to create ATP.
2. In the absence of oxygen some cells and organisms can use glycolysis coupled to fermentation to produce energy from the sugar created by photosynthesis.
In the absence of Oxygen, an organism must use fermentation. Glycolysis produces NADH and pyruvate. The NADH is made from NAD. However there is a limited supply of NAD, so it is necessary to oxidize the NADH (remove the H atom). In the presence of oxygen, this is done by the electron transport chain. Without oxygen, NADH is oxidized using the pyruvate, which results in lactic acid.
3. Explain how an enzyme catalyzes a reaction. Include in your paper the three main steps of the cycle of enzyme-substrate interactions.
Enzymes catalyze reactions by bringing the reactants into a more favorable position. This allows the reaction to occur with less energy. In turn, this means that more molecules are able to participate in the reaction which speeds up the reaction.
Include in your paper:
•Complete descriptions of photosynthesis and aerobic respiration. •Describe how these two processes are linked between plants and animals based on the reactants and products (water, carbon dioxide, glucose and oxygen) of both pathways. •Include a description of how energy is transferred from sunlight to ATP, from ATP to sugars, and from sugars to your cells.
Photosynthesis is the process whereby plants utilize C02, H2O and Sunlight to create food in the form of a sugar called glucose. As a byproduct of this reaction, the plants also release oxygen.
Respiration is the process where cells …show more content…
use glucose, to release stored energy. In the process, cells release CO2.
Photosynthesis takes place in Chloroplasts which are found mostly in the plant leaves.
Chloroplasts are organelles composed of a phospholipid inner and outer membrane. Between these 2 membranes is an intramembranous space. Inside the inner membrane is a fluid called the stroma which contains thylakoids, where photosynthesis takes place.
The thylakoids are shaped like pancakes and are bounded by a membrane. Photosynthesis takes place on the thylakoid membrane. The thylakoid membrane has proteins embedded in it. The pigment chlorophyll is embedded in specialized proteins within the thylakoid membrane. Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light, but not green. This is what gives plants their green color.
When light strikes chlorophyll, it absorbs one photon and loses one electron. The electron is now in a higher state of potential energy and is unstable. This electron is passed down a chain of modified chlorophyll molecules creating an electron transport chain. The electron is passed to NADP, reducing it to NADPH. The energy released by reducing the potential energy of the electron is used by enzymes to pump hydrogen atoms inside the membrane. This creates a proton gradient. The proton gradient is caused by a higher concentration of protons inside the membrane than outside. This proton gradient is then used to add a phosphate onto ADP, turning it into ATP. The net effect of this process is to store the energy of the proton gradient in
ATP.
2H2O + 2NADP+ + 3ADP + 3Pi → O2 + 2NADPH + 3ATP
(Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration, 2001)
NADPH and ATP are then used in the Calvin Cycle to produce Glucose. The net reaction therefore looks like this:
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy --> 6O2 + C6H12O6
(Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration, 2001)
Respiration takes glucose and breaks it down using Oxygen to produce energy in the reaction: 6O2 + C6H12O6 --> 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy
(Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration, 2001)
Respiration takes place within the plant, giving it energy to perform living functions. Respiration also occurs in many animals, including humans who eat the plants or another animal that has eaten the plant and then use the energy stored in glucose to perform living functions.
Photosynthesis and respiration are the basis of almost all life on earth. Photosynthesis produces glucose, which is used by the plants and animals to derive energy. Photosynthesis also results in the production of Oxygen. Oxygen is a required factor in aerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration is many times more powerful and efficient than anaerobic respiration which makes the larger more diverse life on earth possible.
There are actually 3 stages of cellular respiration 1) Glycolysis-This takes glucose and breaks it down into pyruvate. This part does not require oxygen and takes place in the cytosol or fluid inside the cell. The result is 2 molecules of ATP and pyruvate. The pyruvate is then oxidized into Acetyl COA, if oxygen is present. 2) Kreb Cycle-This is an aerobic process and it takes the Acetyl COA and oxidizes it to CO2 and creates NADH. The Kreb Cycle takes place in the mitochondria. 3) Electron Transport Chain-The electron transport chain takes place along the cristae or inner membrane wall of the mitochondria. It takes the NADH and oxidizes it, producing a proton gradient which is used to create ATP.
2. In the absence of oxygen some cells and organisms can use glycolysis coupled to fermentation to produce energy from the sugar created by photosynthesis.
In the absence of Oxygen, an organism must use fermentation. Glycolysis produces NADH and pyruvate. The NADH is made from NAD. However there is a limited supply of NAD, so it is necessary to oxidize the NADH (remove the H atom). In the presence of oxygen, this is done by the electron transport chain. Without oxygen, NADH is oxidized using the pyruvate, which results in lactic acid.
3. Explain how an enzyme catalyzes a reaction. Include in your paper the three main steps of the cycle of enzyme-substrate interactions.
Enzymes catalyze reactions by bringing the reactants into a more favorable position. This allows the reaction to occur with less energy. In turn, this means that more molecules are able to participate in the reaction which speeds up the reaction.