Respiration and Photosynthesis Cycle - Essay Example

Respiration and photosynthesis cycle Respiration and photosynthesis cycle Photosynthesis is a very important chemical reaction on our planet. The reaction occurs in plants in the presence of water, chlorophyll, carbon dioxide (CO2) and light (Hall & Rao, 1999). Its chemical equation is as follows 6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2. Photosynthes is process whereby light energy is converted to chemical energy by green plants and some algae. It takes place in chloroplasts using the green pigment in plants known as chlorophyll (Riaito Unified School, n.d). Inside the chloroplasts, there are thylakoids arranged in stacks and the part that is outside the thylakoids is called the stroma. The process is characterized by two reactions. The first reaction is dependent on light and occur in the thylakoids and the second reaction that is light-independent and occurs in the stroma. The electron carriers are of help in the progression of photosynthesis (Hall & Rao, 1999). Sunlight makes the electrons located in the thylakoids to get excited until they need a special carrier called NDP+. In this scenario, NDP+ carries two electrons at a time (Calvin n.d). The NDP+ also attracts and grabs the H+ in the process and turns NDP+ into NADPH. NADPH is a special carrier that carries high energy and excited for reactions in the cell. Additionally, the electrons can also be utilized to make food for the plant hence the light dependent reaction (Riaito Unified School, n.d). In this stage, it utilizes ATP and NADPH that are products of the light dependent stage to form sugars of high energy. The resulting products of the process include sugars and oxygen (Hall & Rao, 1999). From the above phenomenon, it is clear that plants are the ones that make food for the animals. Moreover, plants are the first in the food chain and photosynthesis is crucial because it produces oxygen for other living things (Calvin, n.d). Light energy penetrates the cell and enters in the chloroplast in the process of photosynthesis. At this stage, the energy is trapped by the grana stacks. At this stage, some light energy is changed into chemical energy (Alters, 2000). Additionally, the phosphate is added to the molecule leading to the formation of ATP. The third phosphate releases another chemical energy (Calvin, n.d). Moreover, the ATP supplies energy to the photosynthetic processes that enhance the conversion of CO2 into sugars. While these reactions are in progress, CO2 diffuses into the chloroplast (Hall & Rao, 1999). Furthermore, in the presence of enzyme Rubisco, one mole of CO2 combines with RuBP and the immediate product of the reaction is the formation of two molecules PGA. PGA then engages in many reactions that release more sugars and rejuvenation of new RuBp. RuBp is again available to combine with a new CO2 molecule to form PG. In the Calvin Cycle, is a crucial reaction in the light reactions whereby light energy is crucial in its operations (Riaito Unified School, n.d). The Calvin cycle also has specific function of utilizing carbon dioxide and turns it into organic molecules. Additionally, the electromagnetic energy from the sun is converted into chemical energy in the chlorophyll cells found in the photosynthetic organisms (Hall & Rao, 1999). In eukaryotes, the light reactions occur in an organelle called the chloroplast (Hall & Rao, 1999). The chloroplast has a green pigment called chlorophyll that absorbs sunlight. Chloroplast is packaged in membranes called grana whereby sunlight is absorbed directly. The light energy from the sun is then converted into chemical energy in the form of ATP, which is the main energy storing molecule in living things (Hall & Rao, 1999). ATP is then transported to various parts of the chloroplast whereby it is used to power the various metabolic processes like the conversion of CO2 into sugar and other compounds. Glycolysis is a stage in the respiration process. It occurs in the presence or the absence of oxygen (Koolman & Röhm, 2005). During the process of glycolysis, the glucose molecules are broken down to yield 2 ATP and energy. The process is accomplished in cytoplasm of organelles of all living things (Hall & Rao, 1999). On the other hand, the fermentation process occurs in the absence of oxygen and this scenario, the pyruvic acid produced during the process of glycolysis is either converted to lactic acid or ethanol. The frequent use of pyruvic acid in the process of glycolysis allows the frequent production of ATP (Calvin n.d). The other process that is crucial is known as respiration. First, it is important to understand that light energy is changed into chemical energy in photosynthesis (Russell, Hertz & McMillan, 2013). Organisms have to transform this chemical energy to the form that is useful for the body through cellular respiration (Russell, Hertz & McMillan, 2013). The process entails the breakdown of food substances with the aim of releasing energy in terms of ATP. The energy is crucial for organisms as well as the cells in the body. The breakdown of glucose to release energy takes place in all living things and occurs in steps. It occurs in mitochondria of living things (Russell, Hertz & McMillan, 2013). The reaction is as follows; C6+H12+6O2 - 6CO2+6H2O. Glucose is burned in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. The main steps of the process of respiration include glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain (Russell, Hertz & McMillan, 2013). In anaerobic process, no oxygen is needed instead, and glucose is broken down through the process of fermentation. The examples of anaerobes include yeasts and bacteria. The process of glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm, and it breaks down glucose into two molecules of pyruvate and in the process two ATP molecules are formed (Russell, Hertz & McMillan, 2013). Additionally, the series of reactions that enhances the breakdown of pyruvate into carbon dioxide is called the Krebs cycle (Russell, Hertz & McMillan, 2013). In the Krebs cycle, the chemical energy that was trapped in the bonds is freed and this stage the excited electrons are free. The electrons make ATP, and carbon dioxide is released in the process and is removed from the body by exhaling. The electrons get back to the chain in the final process of breaking down glucose (Riaito Unified School, n.d). At some point, ATP is produced in this reaction. Moreover, in the chain the ADP molecules move in circles (Riaito Unified School, n.d). In the process, plenty of energies is freed to produce three molecules of ATP per molecule of ADP (Russell, Hertz & McMillan, 2013). In these processes, both ATP and ADP are special molecules that are used to store energy. In the above scenario, both the process of photosynthesis and cellular respiration are complementary to each other for the benefit of living things. The process of photosynthesis and respiration plays a crucial role in the surroundings. Plants exchange the atmospheric carbon dioxide into useful substances such as fats, proteins, and sugars. CO2 is taken into the plants through the stomata (Net Industries, 2015). The atmospheric carbon is then mixed with water absorbed through the roots of the plants to produce organic compounds using sunlight as energy and this process is called photosynthesis (Net Industries, 2015). Animals eat other animals or plants and the sugar; proteins and fats are extracted from the biomass taken into their bodies. Additionally, in the cells, energy is derived from the food through the process of respiration (Net Industries, 2015). The action requires oxygen that is a creation of photosynthesis. On the other hand, respiration produces CO2, which again is required by the process of photosynthesis and this scenario, photosynthesis, and respiration and linked together in the carbon cycle. Additionally, photosynthesis needs atmospheric carbon while respiration profits the carbon back to the atmosphere after consuming oxygen and vice versa. Both respiration and photosynthesis as they occur on earth plays a role in influencing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere (Net Industries, 2015). There is another way in which CO2 is released into the atmosphere through cellular respiration. The release occurs through various roles played by decomposers such as fungi and bacteria (Net Industries, 2015). These decomposers gains nutrients by feeding on the remains of animals and plants (Net Industries, 2015). They exploit the process of respiration to get the energy that is contained in the chemical bonds of the decomposing material (Net Industries, 2015). As the organism’s gains energy through this process, CO2 is released into the atmosphere. The rate of release of CO2 through decomposition may be affected by the type of ecosystem. In some ecosystems, the decomposition rate is high making release high while in other it is low which means less CO2 released. Moreover, in some areas of the deep seas and oceans, the organic matter may accumulate in sediments. This is because as decomposers may not function well in these ecosystems due to the lack of oxygen (Net Industries, 2015). The accumulated organic materials are of great help. For many years, these organic components deep in seas and oceans are converted into natural gas, petroleum and coal (Net Industries, 2015). Also, in the marine environment, various carbons containing matter like calcium carbonate is infiltrated into the shells of aquatic organisms. Once these organisms die, the hard carbon-rich parts sink into the ocean beds and transform into useful substances such as dolomite and limestone. References Alters, S. (2000). Biology: Understanding Life. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Calvin, Melvin. (n.d). A Primer on Photosynthesis and the Functioning of Cells. Retrieved on 7th Hall, D & Rao, K. (1999). Photosynthesis. London: Cambridge University Press.   Koolman, J & Röhm, K. (2005). Color Atlas of Biochemistry. New York: Thieme. March 2015 from . Net Industries. (2015). Carbon Cycle - Cellular Respiration. Retrieved on 7th March 2015 from . Riaito Unified School. (n.d). Photosynthesis and Respiration. Retrieved on 8th March 2014 from .  Russell, P., Hertz, P & McMillan, B. (2013). Biology: The Dynamic Science. New York: Cengage Learning Read More