Blog 6 Compare and contrast Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration.

Photosynthesis is the process which light energy is converted to chemical bond energy and carbon is fixed into organic compounds. Formula:
light
6CO2 + 12H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6H2O + 6O2

source of pic: http://www.eoearth.org/files/121601_121700/121668/Irrigation-photosynthesis.gif



Cell respiration is when cells extract energy stored in food and transfer that energy to molecules of ATP. The equation for aerobic respiration of one molecule of glucose is highly exergonic:

C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

source of pic: http://bioap.wikispaces.com/file/view/c9x6cell-respiration.jpg

Similarites:
- both involve electron transport chains.
- uses ATP for energy
- takes place in organelle: cellular respiration takes place in the mitochondria, photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplast
-provides power for cellular activities
- chemiomosis allows ATP synthase to produce ATP

Differences:
- Photosynthesis uses 2 electron transport chains, cellular respiration uses one
- photosynthesis energy is provided by photons, catabolic processes in cellular respiration
- photosynthesis involves the production of NADPH, cellular respiration involves NADH and FADH2
- cellular respiration depends on oxygen as a substrate
- photosynthesis captures energy, cellular respiration releases energy
- photosynthesis reactants: carbon dioxide and hydrogen products: glucose and oxygen
- cellular respiration reactants: glycogen and oxygen products carbon dioxide and hydrogen