Bio energy flow and photosynthesis

series of enzyme-mediated reactions by which cells build, remodel, or break down an organic molecule

• concentrations of reactants and products
• feedback inhibition
• allosteric sites
• this control over the enzymes allows cells to conserve energy and resources by producing only what they require

• mechanism by which a change that results from some activity decreases or stops the activity
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• a region of an enzyme, other than the active site, that can bind regulatory molecules
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organic molecules required in small amounts for normal growth, reproduction and tissue maintenance

inorganic chemical element required by organisms for normal growth, reproduction and tissue maintenance

hormone secreted by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar

lack of insulin production

receptors on cells respond poorly to insulin

fiber eaten with digestible carbs can help slow the release of sugar, reducing the risk of surges in blood sugar

the capacity to do work

energy cannot be created or destroyed but converted from one form to another

• chemical energy
• potential energy
• kinetic energy
• heat

• the potential energy stored in the bonds of biological molecules
• breaking these bonds releases that stored energy, making it available to power cellular functions

stored energy

the energy of motion or movement

the kinetic energy generated by random movements of molecules or atoms

• not efficient
• energy is lost to the environment as heat
• reason for need of energy input (food for example)

organism that captures the energy of sunlight by photosynthesis (plants, algae, cyanobacteria)

organism that obtains energy by eating organic molecules that were made by other organisms (humans, animals)

the process by which plants and other autotrophs use the energy of sunlight to make energy-rich molecules using carbon dioxide and water

• sunlight + water + carbon dioxide > oxygen + glucose
• carbon dioxide is the carbon source
• glucose is produced
• splitting of water molecules result in oxygen as a by-product
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• photo part - light energy is captured in chemical form. during the process water is split releasing oxygen as a by-product
• synthesis part - chemical energy is used to generate glucose molecules using the carbon atoms of carbon dioxide

organelle in plant and algae cells where photosynthesis occurs

the energy of the electromagnetic spectrum of radiation

• packets of light energy, each with a specific wavelength and quantity of energy
• the human eye perceives each wavelength as a different color

• the pigment present in the green parts of plants that absorbs photons of light energy during the light reactions of photosynthesis
• it absorbs the red and blue wavelengths of visible light and reflects green (this is why leaves appear green)

• when red and blue photons are absorbed by chlorophyll during the light reactions, the electrons in its atoms become excited.
• these excited electrons are used to generate energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which is used in the synthesis part of photosynthesis to make sugar
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• the conversion of inorganic carbon (ie CO₂) into organic forms (ie sugars)
• carbon fixation is ultimately the way carbon enters the global energy chain
• resulting sugars can be eaten by animals and humans or used by plants to grow and increase their biomass

• very efficient energy converters - the oil they produce is rich in chemical energy
• all they need to make the oil is sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen and phosphorus
• they can be modified using biotechnology
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