Photosynthesis v. Cell Respiration
Sruthi Kilari and Shivani Goyal
Introduction
The formula for photosynthesis is 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight -—> C6H12O6 + 6O2.
The formula for cellular respiration is C6H12O6 + 6O2 —> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (ATP).
The reactants for photosynthesis are carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight, while the reactants for cellular respiration are carbohydrates (sugar) and oxygen.
The products for photosynthesis are carbohydrates (sugar) and oxygen while the products for cellular respiration are carbon dioxide, water, and energy (ATP). Only plants go through photosynthesis, but all living organisms go through cellular respiration.
Animal - Bunny
Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration changes energy from food into energy that the body cells can utilize. The oxygen that the bunny takes in enters the body through the nose and mouth, and flows down the respiratory tract to enter the lungs. In the lungs oxygen enters air sacs called alveoli. The alveoli is where oxygen entering the blood stream and carbon dioxide leaving the blood stream occurs. The oxygen is carried through the blood stream to the cells. The nutrients from the food that the bunny eats (carrot) goes to the small intestine. In the small intestine, little folds called villi absorb the nutrients into the blood stream. The bloodstream carries the nutrients to the cells. The food (carrot) is completely digested, and is a monosaccharide called glucose. Glucose is the sugar produced by a plant (carrot) during photosynthesis. The energy in glucose is transferred into ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). In summary, glucose and oxygen are taken into their body and undergo the process of cellular respiration. To produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy (ATP). The entire process of cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria.
Mitochondria
Location of photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
The process of cellular respiration
Villi
Villi are located in the small intestine and absorb nutrients into the bloodstream.
Plant - Carrot
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a process occurs in the chloroplast of the plant cell in the mesophyll of the leaves. Light energy, water and carbon dioxide are needed for this. Carbon dioxide enters the plant from the stomata, which are little pore-like structures in the leaves. Water is absorbed into the leaf because of capillary action that carries the water up from the roots. Light energy is absorbed by the pigments of the thylakoids, little disc-shaped structures in the chloroplasts. In the chloroplasts, CO2 and H2O are transferred into sugar (glucose). Light-dependent reactions split the H2O into hydrogen and oxygen. Next, light-independent reactions occur inside the stroma of the chloroplast. These reactions are powered by ATP and produce ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and glucose.
Photosynthesis
The process of photosynthesis.
Chloroplast
The structure where photosynthesis occurs.
Stomata
The pores in which carbon dioxide enter the leaf.
Connection/Comparison
How do they relate?
Plants, such as carrots are autotrophs that produce their own food through photosynthesis. However, they also undergo cellular respiration. On the other hand, heterotrophs such as the rabbit are not capable of photosynthesis and must obtain the glucose needed for cellular respiration by eating plants such as the carrot.