In this discussion, you will justify the dependence of life on the sun and the i

Question

In this discussion, you will justify the dependence of life on the sun and the interdependence of living things and their chemistry. People who do not understand the relationships between biological processes on the planet may roll their eyes at the statement, "Life on this planet is a delicate balance." What evidence have you found in this course so far to support this statement? You will be composing an essay with different paragraphs addressing the points below. If the format of your post is in question/answer format rather than a coherent essay, you will lose points. Consider:

*The relationship between the sun, autotrophs, and heterotrophs. Give examples of how the relationship between each group.

*The relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Explain the chemical reactants and products of one to the other.

*The relationship between oxidation and reduction reactions. Define and provide an example of each.

*The production and consumption of ATP during photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Be detailed in where ATP is made, and where it may be used both in photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Explanation / Answer

Life is dependent upon the ultimate source of energy the sun and the interdependence of living things and their chemistry. Hence life on this planet is a delicate balance. The autotrophs act as a bridge between the source of ultimate energy the sun and the heterotrophs. By the process of photosynthesis, autotrophs make their own food, while the food chain and food webs are established by the heterotrophs that cannot synthesize their own food. A delicate balance is maintained in the food webs.

The relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration is an example of the balance of the that is maintained between opposing cellular process to support life. Using of energy from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide; the products of photosynthesis; glucose and oxygen become the reactants of respiration to produce carbon dioxide and water.

The redox reactions in most biological systems lead to the addition of hydrogen atoms catalyzed by the enzymes called dehydrogenases. Energy is released when organic compounds undergo redox reactions by the help of biocatalysts the enzymes and based on the needs of the cell a balance is struck. The production of ATP in photosynthesis and respiration requires the use the electron transport chain having the proton pump and ATP synthase. After receiving light energy in photosynthesis electrons enter the transport chain. However, the electrons in the electron transport chain are provided by organic food molecules. The production of ATP and reducing equivalents NADPH in occurs in the light reactions of the photosynthesis. In cellular respiration, ATP is used in the some of the reactions of glycolysis but it is produced in substrate level phosphorylation of Glycolysis and TCA. The reducing equivalent NADH and FADH 2 produced in glycolysis and TCA produce the ATP in electron transport chain in respiration.

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