Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration

Photosynthesis is basically the process for plants to take energy from the sun and convert it to energy or sugars.Light is actually energy. Light is electromagnetic energy that plants store. Photosynthesis happens in the chloroplast and then chlorophyll captures the light from the sun. Chlorophyll can be found in many organisms and is the thing that kicks off the process of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide and hydrogen get together to form glucose and oxygen for the plants. Photosynthesis is divided into two major parts, the light dependent reaction and the light independent reaction.The first part is the light dependent reaction and happens when light is pushed into ATP. The second part is the light independent reaction and happens when ATP is used to make glucose (this process is also known as the Calvin Cycle, or the Dark Cycle). Cellular respiration is a catabolic pathway for the production of ATP (high energy molecule). Cellular respiration is the fastest ways for cells to obtain energy from storage. There are three main stages of cellular respiration: glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and electron transport. Glycolysis is where glucose is split into two molecules of three carbon sugars. NADH are produced. The second stage is the citric acid cycle which is also known as Krebs Cycle. It begins after the two molecules of the three carbon sugar is produced in glycolysis. Doesn't use oxygen directly if oxygen is not present. NAD and FAD are produced along with the two ATP molecules. The last step is Electron Transport which REQUIRES oxygen. The chain is a series of electron carriers int he membrane of the mitochondria in the eukaryotic cells. ATP is produced.

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