There are key differences between cellular respiration and photosynthesis that can help one learn about each process on a deeper level. Cellular respiration’s goal is to break down certain food molecules like sugars, fats, and carbohydrates and convert it to ATP or energy for the cell to use. For photosynthesis, its purpose is to obtain solar energy and convert that energy into chemical energy and glucose for food and an energy storage. Cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria, which is the organelle that creates energy for the cell. Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast, an organelle that only appears in plant cells, which absorbs sunlight by using chlorophyll. The reactants and products of each process differ from each other like
…show more content…
Cellular respiration goes through three parts: Glycolysis, the Citric-Acid Cycle, and Oxidative Phosphorylation. The first process, Glycolysis, is basically where the reactants are being broken down into a compound known as pyruvate. This actually happens in the cytosol, then once glucose is broken down into pyruvate, and as it enters the mitochondrion it gets oxidized. After that, it now enters the next step, the Citric-Acid Cycle. During this time, the glucose is finally being broken down into carbon dioxide. That means that during the first two steps of cellular respiration, there are many redox reactions to transfer electrons throughout the electron transport chain. This chain is embedded in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. The electron transport chain obtains the electrons mostly by NADH and FADH2, both enzymes. The final step, Oxidative Phosphorylation, is another version of creating ATP, or energy for the cell. It is dependent on the the electron transport chain. Each time electrons are transferred from one molecule to another, energy is released and at the end of the chain, the electrons integrate with oxygen and hydrogen ions, making water molecules. These protons that are able to combine with the electrons are pushed into the mitochondrion membrane and they move from one amino side chain to
Cellular respiration goes through three parts: Glycolysis, the Citric-Acid Cycle, and Oxidative Phosphorylation. The first process, Glycolysis, is basically where the reactants are being broken down into a compound known as pyruvate. This actually happens in the cytosol, then once glucose is broken down into pyruvate, and as it enters the mitochondrion it gets oxidized. After that, it now enters the next step, the Citric-Acid Cycle. During this time, the glucose is finally being broken down into carbon dioxide. That means that during the first two steps of cellular respiration, there are many redox reactions to transfer electrons throughout the electron transport chain. This chain is embedded in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. The electron transport chain obtains the electrons mostly by NADH and FADH2, both enzymes. The final step, Oxidative Phosphorylation, is another version of creating ATP, or energy for the cell. It is dependent on the the electron transport chain. Each time electrons are transferred from one molecule to another, energy is released and at the end of the chain, the electrons integrate with oxygen and hydrogen ions, making water molecules. These protons that are able to combine with the electrons are pushed into the mitochondrion membrane and they move from one amino side chain to