Cellular Processes
By Rohan Jupelly & George Kolev
Photosynthesis
In plants, sunlight, water and carbon dioxide are brought to the plant in various ways. The products of photosynthesis are glucose and oxygen, represented in this formula:
6 CO2 + 6 H2O+Sunlight ------> C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Roots
In a giant redwood, a massive root system is needed to absorb water.
Trunk
In a redwood, a massive trunk is needed to transport water throughout the tree, using capillary action.
Leaves
The leaves of a redwood are needed for two important things. The stomata on the underside of the leaf allow for the gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, and the chloroplasts in the plants allow for the absorption of sunlight.
Chloroplasts
The chloroplasts are where photosynthesis happens. First, the sunlight enters the chloroplasts, where it splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. ATP is also generated through this reaction for the Calvin Cycle. In the Calvin cycle, the energy stored in the ATP is used to make glucose and the byproduct oxygen
Collection of Materials Used for Cellular Respiration in a Human
Lungs
The lungs are what allows for the gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen.
Blood Stream
The blood stream transports glucose and gases to and from cells. This transport system also transports water to and from cells.
The small Intestine
The small intestine is the organ in an organism that absorbs all the macro molecules, such as glucose, out of the food a human eats.
Cellular Respiration (Aerobic)
Cellular respiration is the process in which ATP is generated using oxygen and glucose, mostly taking place in the mitochondria, with the exception of glucose. The result of cellular respiration is water, carbon dioxide, and ATP. The first stage of cellular respiration is when glucose enters into the cell using facilitated diffusion. Then, in the cytoplasm, glycolosis occurs, where two pyruvates, 2 NADH molecules, and 2 ATP are made. The pyruvates enter the mitochondria and enters the Kreb's cycle, where 2 more ATP, 3 more NADH, 1 FADH2, a citric acid byproduct, and carbon dioxide are made. The NADH and FADH2 are energized by electrons making them excellent for carrying them. These then enter the electron transport chain where the electrons and H+ cross the membrane and enter the ATP synthase, which combines ADP and another phosphate group, creating 34 ATP. Combined with all the other ATP generated from the other cycles, 38 ATP is mad. This makes the formula O2+glucose-> H2O+energy+CO2
Cellular Respiration (Anaerobic)
In anaerobic respiration, glycolosis takes place, but since their is not enough oxygen present, it goes through fermentation, where lactic acid and a little ATP are generated. This is good because it allows for an organism or plant to survive in habitats with an oxygen deprivation. In animals, the lactic acid made creates soreness of the muscles. In plants, like barley, fermentation makes alcohol.
Connections
The reactants of photosynthesis and the products of cellular respiration are the same and vice-versa. This in effect balances both the processes, so nothing is overproduced