The Importance Of Photosynthesis And Cellular Respiration

Introduction Photosynthesis and cellular respiration play a very important part in determining the growth of a plant and its yield. “Photosynthesis and aerobic respiration result in the exchange of the same two gases, CO2 and O2”(Hunt 2002). Photosynthesis is a process that converts the sun’s energy into chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates. There are two main stages; the light dependent and the light independent. “In the first, light dependent stage, light energy is captured in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate which is used to fuel the second stage, light-independent” (BLG143 Lab Manual, 2014). The most common carbohydrate that is produced is glucose (C6H12O6). When water splits, its electrons are transferred to carbon dioxide, which is then further reduced to form

Photosynthesis “is an endergonic suite of reactions that reduce carbon dioxide to glucose or other sugars” (Freeman et al. 2014). Cellular respiration provides plants and many other organisms with energy. Many organic molecules react with oxygen converting it into carbon dioxide, water and energy usually in the form of adenosine triphosphate. The process of oxidizing glucose occurs in two different stages in respiration. One is glycolysis, when glucose is converted into 2 pyruvate molecules and the other is when the electrons from the pyruvate molecules pass through the electron transport chain. Respiration “is an exergonic suite of reactions that oxidizes glucose to carbon dioxide and results in the production of ATP”(Freeman et al. 2014). A general formula to describe photosynthesis and respiration is: 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy