How does Photosynthesis relate to respiration?
The general equation of Photosynthesis is the reverse of respiration. Photosynthesis uses energy to build molecules of carbs for energy storage. Plants also use respiration when they need ATP for their cells but they are able to use sunlight to formulate the glucose needed unlike heterotrophs that have to consume this by eating other organisms often plants. Both respiration and photosynthesis have many similarities the product of the steps of photosynthesis are reactants of respiration. Photosynthesis only has two major steps instead of the three in respiration, and it also contains a cycle and an electron transport chain some ATP is also produced during this process.
Explain the concept of wavelengths visible light and how they relate to photosynthesis?
Light behaves like a wave and a particle; the particle is called a photon. The distance between peaks of a wave of light is called the wavelength the shorter the wavelength the higher the energy of light and the greater energy photons of that light contain. The visible light spectrum is from wavelengths of 380 to 750nm. The Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll molecules that absorb light. The most effective visible light is violet-blue and red and the least effective is green since chlorophyll reflects that color. Accessory pigments such as carotenoids and xanthophylls help the plant absorb more colors of light making the process more efficient. The membrane of the thylakoid contains light harvesting complexes that use these pigments to excite electron and send them to the primary electron acceptor sending the energy from Photosystem 2 to Photosystem 1.
What are the evolutionary advantages of CAM and C4 Plants?
Most plants can be called C3 plants because they use a 3-carbon compound to start the Calvin cycle. Unfortunately when not very much Co2 is present the Calvin cycle will bind to O2 to produce more Co2 this can be seen as very wasteful because it consumes ATP. C4 plants have adapted to hot dry climates because they use PEP carboxylase to which has a very high affinity for CO2 to fix CO2 in the mesophyll cells before sending CO2 to the more contained bundle-sheath cells where the Calvin cycle takes place. This eliminates photorespiration and also lessens water evaporation. CAM plants leave their stomata open only during the night to avoid the excessive amounts of water evaporation that would occur during the day. They fix co2 with and acid known as CAM during the night and then use it during the day when the light reactions are occurring.
Facts:
-The O2 released during photosynthesis is a result of the water spitting during the light reactions
-NADPH and ATP are formed during the light reactions and these energy molecules are needed to fix co2 during the Calvin cycle
-Stomata are the pores in the leaf stroma is the liquid inside the chloroplast
- Photosystem 2 occurs first and best absorbs light with a wavelength of 680 Photosystem 1 occurs second but can also function independently and best absorbs light with a wavelength of 700.
- ATP synthase is used during the electron transport chain from photosystem 2 to photosystem 1 when a H+ concentration is formed within the tylakoid pumping ATP into the stroma where the Calvin cycle occurs.
This depicts the relationship between Photosystem 1 and Photosystem 2. Photosystem 2 absorbs light and splits water to send the excited electron to the electron transport chain that produces ATP while sending the electron to Photosystem 1. Photosystem 1 uses this energy to from NADPH, but it can also independently absorb light and form NADPH. This is why Photosystem 2 is said to use non-cyclic electron flow and Photosystem 1 uses cyclic electron flow.
Summary:
Plants are said to be the producers because they don’t need to live off other organisms they use photosynthesis to produce glucose. Inside the chloroplasts within the membrane of the thylakoid light energy is absorbed by the photosystems that produce NADPH and ATP the energy storing molecules needed for the Calvin cycle. The Calvin cycle uses CO2 to combine with Rubisco ATP and NADPH power the cycle and are recycled to NADP+ and ADP to be reused in the light reactions. The Calvin cycle produces G3P, which is converted into energy storing molecules.
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