ATP

CELLULAR RESPIRATION: Definition, Types, Combustion vs. Respiration, ATP and cells

Combustion vs. respiration
Combustion (the burning of coal and other fuels) is an oxidative process, but it is not the same as respiration. Oxidation/chemical burning is used in both procedures. Combustion, like the burning of fuels and firewood, is a non-enzymatic, uncontrolled process. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is not made. In an uncontrolled manner, energy is released as heat and light.
Respiration is a well-regulated biochemical activity that is conducted by enzymes and is a key feature of living cells. The energy is stored as a biomolecule (ATP), which releases it as needed by the cell.

CELLULAR RESPIRATION: Definition, Types, Combustion vs. Respiration, ATP and cells Read More »

Photosynthesis: Definition, Early Findings, and Pigments

Photosynthesis is important since
1. 1. It is the principal food source.
2. It releases oxygen into the environment.
Early Findings
1. Jan Ingenhousz: Experiment with aquatic plants in light and dark – He discovered that sunlight is required for plant purification activities.
2. Julius Von Sachs: Plants produce glucose and store it as starch in their green portions.
3. T.W. Engelmann: Spilt light utilising prism into 7 colours (VIBGYOR) – Green Algae Cladophora in a suspension of aerobic bacteria – Bacteria were utilised to detect O2 evolution sites.
4. Cornelius van Niel: He experimented with purple and green bacteria and established that photosynthesis is a light-dependent process in which CO2 is reduced to carbohydrates using hydrogen from H2O. He concluded that oxygen comes from H2O, not CO2.

Photosynthesis: Definition, Early Findings, and Pigments Read More »