Biology 2.1: Electrical Energy (Electrons Become Excited (Energised) )

Biology 2.
1
-Cellular respiration: [Def.: The transforming of molecular energy to ATP in mitochondria/The
controlled release of energy from organic compounds in cells to form ATP  cell respiration
“takes” the energy of glucose and puts it into ATP] Respiration doesn’t mean breathing in this
case! Ventilation is breathing in biology! Cells need ATP; specific cells such as brain and muscle
cells need even more ATP. The ATP produced by cell respiration is immediately available as a
source of energy in the cell.
Glycolysis: [Def.: Breaking down sugars to put their energy into ATP molecules.] There are
different forms of Glycolysis or cell respiration:
a) Anaerobic respiration (without oxygen -O2)  Alcoholic fermentation in yeast OR
lactic acid production in animal cells
b) Aerobic respiration (with oxygen +O2)
-Anaerobic respiration: Anaerobic respiration gives a small yield of ATP from glucose; it does
not require oxygen. Glucose is split up to two pyruvates by using 2 ATP, of the pyruvate the cell
gains 2 ATP of each, so 4 ATP. It loses 2 and wins 4, so it gained 2 new ATP.
Alcoholic fermentation in yeast  no oxygen needed: Glucose  2 pyruvates  waste
products CO2 and ethanol | Incomplete/partial breakdown of glucose molecule to ethanol | Much
of the energy in glucose is “trapped” in ethanol molecules and cannot be used
Lactic acid fermentation: Glucose  2 pyruvates  2 lactates (waste products | only if
oxygen is used [aerobic pathway] lactate is formed to pyruvate) | Incomplete/partial breakdown of
glucose molecule to lactate if no oxygen is present. When oxygen returns to the cell it switches
back to the aerobic pathway.
-Aerobic respiration: requires oxygen, this is where ventilation and gas exchange come in, and
gives a large yield of ATP (all energy out of glucose) from glucose.
Glycolysis happening in the cytoplasm: Glucose is split up to 2 pyruvates + 2 ATP  then
pyruvate moves into the mitochondria. In the mitochondria the Krebs cycle activates from which
the cell gets up to 34 ATP (O2 diffuses into mitochondria + CO2 diffuses out); waste products:
CO2 & H2O | Complete breakdown of glucose molecule: more efficient complete oxidation of
glucose; products: 36 ATP + CO2 + H2O
-Overall information: The first stage of cell respiration is called glycolysis and occurs in the
cytoplasm of all cells | organisms that use an anaerobic form of cell respiration called alcoholic
fermentation convert pyruvate into ethanol | organisms that have mitochondria within their cells
are capable of aerobic cell respiration
Photosynthesis: [Def.: is the production of carbon compounds in cells using light energy] Every
bit of energy in biological processes comes from the sun. Plants take up the energy of sunrays
and transform them to ATP.
a) No cell or organism can create energy!
b) Energy is taken up from the environment by all organisms and converted into
other forms.
c) Autotrophic organisms: convert anorganic substances (e.g. CO 2) into organic
substances (e.g. glucose) with the energy given by sunrays.
d) Heterotrophic organisms: obtain their energy from organic substances.
Photosynthesis (with light): 6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2
Respiration (in cells/organisms): C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6H2O
The air is composed by 78% nitrogen (N2), 21% oxygen (O2), 0,04% carbon dioxide (CO2) (400
ppm [parts per million]) and the rest are micro elements such as noble gases or hydrogen (H 2)
Energy TRANSFORMATIONS in photosynthesis: Light energy  electrical energy (electrons
become excited [energised])  ATP  Glucose (chemical or bond energy)
why the design (anatomy) of the leaf is ideal considering its function:
a) Leaves are thin and have a large surface area, to trap much light.
b) The transparent cuticle protects the leaf & allows light to pass through.
c) High population of chloroplasts in the palisade cells/layer
d) Air spaces in the spongy mesophyll layer for gas exchange. In = CO 2 Out = O2
e) The stomata are mainly on the underside: less loss of water.
f) Stomata control gas exchange and water loss.
g) Leaf is thin: short distance for gas transport & transmitted light used below.
Leaf absorption spectrum: Absorption spectrum means: Profile of differential absorption of light
wavelengths/colours | peak absorption of PAR (blue, reds) |:| Action spectrum means: Profile of
the ability to drive photosynthesis.
They follow the same shape: Strong absorption of the wavelengths that are most
photosynthetically useful.
PAR: Photosynthetically Active Radiation
-Overall information:
Visible light has a range of wavelengths (400-700 nm), with violet the shortest wavelength and
red the longest. Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most effectively and reflects green light
more than other colours. It is often used by plants doing photosynthesis.
Oxygen is produced in photosynthesis from the photolysis of water.
Energy is needed to produce carbohydrates and other carbon compounds from carbon dioxide.
Measuring the rate of photosynthesis:
3 ways to estimate the speed of photosynthesis:
6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2
The amount of O2 released
The amount of CO2 used
The amount of plant growth (=glucose made)
All plant cells do photosynthesis

ALL LIVING cells do respiration
The products of the chloroplasts are the resources of the mitochondria, and vice versa. The
biochemical pathways are LINKED in plant cells.
The net level of oxygen in air around a plant:
Daytime: oxygen released by plant. Photosynthesis
Night-time: oxygen taken in by plant. No Photosynthesis
Cellular respiration takes place during daytime and night-time
Calvin cycle = RuBisCO-cycle
-Effect of changing light level (on photosynthesis):

As the light level increases there is a proportional increase in photosynthesis: more available
light energy  more photolysis  more stage 1 products. At some point a plateau is reached:
further increase in light level has no effect on increasing photosynthesis. The molecular factory is
working at max. rate.
Effect of changing temperature (on photosynthesis):
As temperature increases molecules in the molecular factory collide more  faster reactions 
faster products. At higher temperatures enzymes controlling photosynthesis become denatured
(destroyed).
Effect of changing [CO2] concentration/level (on photosynthesis):
As CO2 levels increase there is a proportional increase in photosynthesis: more available CO 2 
more stage 2 products (glucose & O2). At some point a plateau is reached: further increase in
CO2 level has no effect on increasing photosynthesis.
Stage 1:
Light dependent reactions
ATP is made:
1. Light energy is captured by photosynthetic molecules.
2. Light energy is used to split water molecules (Photolysis).
3. H-atoms from the split water molecules are collected by a taxi-molecule called NADPH 
NADPH2.
4. Light energy is also transferred to electrons (e-) which provide the energy to make ATP
molecules.
5. Oxygen (O2) is released as a waste product.
Photolysis: using the power of light to split water molecules
6CO2 + 6H2O => C6H12O6 + 6O2
The released oxygen (waste product) comes from the water.
Where do the building blocks come from to make the sugar?
The carbon and oxygen come from the CO2 gas.
The hydrogen comes from the water.
Stage 2
Light independent reactions
C-Fixation (Assimilation): Incorporating C-atoms into building organic macromolecules.
Phase of photosynthesis:
1. ATP is used to drive the biosynthesis of organic macromolecules  The C-atoms are “fixed” in
these macromolecules (glucose as a first step)
2. NADPH2 (from stage 1) provides H to build a large carbohydrate
3. CO2 provides the C atoms and the O atoms
4. What comes out of the light independent phase is glucose: C6H12O6
5. An enzyme called RoBisCO ‘fixes’ (traps) CO2 (g) in a molecule, RuBP
RuBisCO
CO2  RuBP
6. From RuBP many biosynthetic pathways make all necessary molecules for plant growth &
development.

Biology 2.1: Electrical Energy (Electrons Become Excited (Energised) )

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Biology 2.1: Electrical Energy (Electrons Become Excited (Energised) )

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Biology 2.1: Electrical Energy (Electrons Become Excited (Energised) )

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Biology 2.

All plant cells do photosynthesis

-Effect of changing light level (on photosynthesis):

You might also like