Photosynthesis: Difference between revisions
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Generically, the biological process of '''photosynthesis''' captures the [[Energy|energy]] of the [[Photon|photons]] in sunlight and through a series of reactions transforms it into the biochemical energy needed to perform the cellular work that maintains a [[Life|living]] [[Organism|organism]]. Nearly all living systems on Earth depend directly or indirectly on photosynthesis, and for us humans it provides essentially all of our food and the bulk of our energy resources. | |||
In the prototypical form of the biological process of photosynthesis in green plants, the leaves capture energy from the photons in sunlight and use that captured energy as the essential primary energy source to drive a set of biochemical reactions that converts [[Carbon dioxide|carbon dioxide]] (CO<sub>2</sub>) and [[Water|water]] (H<sub>2</sub>) to [[Oxygen|oxygen]] (O<sub>2</sub>) and a [[Carbohydrate|carbohydrate]] compound, the [[Sugar|sugar]], [[Glucose|glucose]] (C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>12</sub>). The process effectively stores energy in the sugar molecule that the photosynthetic [[Organism|organism]] can [[Metabolism|metabolize]] to generate [[Adenosine triphosphate|adenosine triphosphate]] ([[ATP]]), the universal energy currency of cells, so-called because it can provide the energy needed to drive biochemical reactions necessary to synthesize the nutrients required to maintain the cell in a [[Life|living state]]. Photosynthesizing cells thus convert light energy to the life-sustaining chemical energy that drives cellular processes. | |||
Organisms that photosynthesize, functioning as [[Autotrophs|autotrophs]] — organisms that generate their own source of food-energy — with their photon-energy-derived complement of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, directly provide a source of food-energy (e.g., vegetables, fruits) for consumption by us humans and other organisms, so-called [[Heterotroph|heterotrophs]] — organisms that feed on other organisms or their components — and indirectly provide a source of food-energy in the form of the non-human heterotrophs that we consume (e.g., chickens, fish). Photosynthesizing cells also supply the oxygen we need to generate our own ATP, and they consume the 'waste' CO<sub>2</sub> produced in the process of generating ATP. | Organisms that photosynthesize, functioning as [[Autotrophs|autotrophs]] — organisms that generate their own source of food-energy — with their photon-energy-derived complement of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, directly provide a source of food-energy (e.g., vegetables, fruits) for consumption by us humans and other organisms, so-called [[Heterotroph|heterotrophs]] — organisms that feed on other organisms or their components — and indirectly provide a source of food-energy in the form of the non-human heterotrophs that we consume (e.g., chickens, fish). Photosynthesizing cells also supply the oxygen we need to generate our own ATP, and they consume the 'waste' CO<sub>2</sub> produced in the process of generating ATP. | ||
Revision as of 21:37, 5 August 2008
Generically, the biological process of photosynthesis captures the energy of the photons in sunlight and through a series of reactions transforms it into the biochemical energy needed to perform the cellular work that maintains a living organism. Nearly all living systems on Earth depend directly or indirectly on photosynthesis, and for us humans it provides essentially all of our food and the bulk of our energy resources.
In the prototypical form of the biological process of photosynthesis in green plants, the leaves capture energy from the photons in sunlight and use that captured energy as the essential primary energy source to drive a set of biochemical reactions that converts carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2) to oxygen (O2) and a carbohydrate compound, the sugar, glucose (C6H12). The process effectively stores energy in the sugar molecule that the photosynthetic organism can metabolize to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the universal energy currency of cells, so-called because it can provide the energy needed to drive biochemical reactions necessary to synthesize the nutrients required to maintain the cell in a living state. Photosynthesizing cells thus convert light energy to the life-sustaining chemical energy that drives cellular processes.
Organisms that photosynthesize, functioning as autotrophs — organisms that generate their own source of food-energy — with their photon-energy-derived complement of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, directly provide a source of food-energy (e.g., vegetables, fruits) for consumption by us humans and other organisms, so-called heterotrophs — organisms that feed on other organisms or their components — and indirectly provide a source of food-energy in the form of the non-human heterotrophs that we consume (e.g., chickens, fish). Photosynthesizing cells also supply the oxygen we need to generate our own ATP, and they consume the 'waste' CO2 produced in the process of generating ATP.
This article will classify the differing types of photosynthesizing organisms, and describe the details of the differing photosynthetic mechanisms employed by them. It will also discuss the implications of photosynthesis in the sciences of biology, geology, oceanography, climatology, and other areas of importance to the life of planet Earth.
Preliminarily, the reader might refer to the following: [1] [2] [3] [4]
References Cited and Notes in Text
- ↑ Farabee MJ. (2007) What is photosynthesis? Online Biology Book
- Detailed teatment of photosynthesis in an online biology course textbook. Includes an illustrated glossary.
- ↑ Photosynthesis Encyclopedia Britannica Free Full-Text Article
- ↑ John Whitmarsh, Govindjee. THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC PROCESS In: "Concepts in Photobiology: Photosynthesis and Photomorphogenesis", Edited by GS Singhal, G Renger, SK Sopory, K-D Irrgang and Govindjee, Narosa Publishers/New Delhi; and Kluwer Academic/Dordrecht, pp. 11-51. The online text is a revised and modified version of "Photosynthesis" by J. Whitmarsh and Govindjee (1995), published in Encyclopedia of Applied Physics (Vol. 13, pp. 513-532) by VCH Publishers, Inc.
- A comprehensive treatment of photosynthesis in a book chapter online. Includes history and research aspects. Detailed.
- ↑ Vermaas W. Introduction to Photosynthesis and Its Applications
- An introduction to photosynthesis readily accessible to the general reader.