8.3 How plants use glucose Flashcards
How is glucose used in a plant
- Glucose produced during photosynthesis
- This is broken down using oxygen to provide energy for the cells (respiration)
How is cellulose made and used in plants
- plants build up glucose into complex carbohydrates such as cellulose
- Strengthen their cell walls
How are amino acids made in a plant
- Use glucose from photosynthesis to make amino acids
- They do this by combining sugars with nitrate ions and other mineral ions from the soil
- These amino acids are then built up into proteins, which uses energy from respiration
what are nitrate ions
ions from the soil needed to make amino acids
How are lipids used in a plant
- Glucose from photosynthesis and energy transferred from respiration to build up fats and oils
- They can be used in the cells as energy store
- Used to make cell walls stronger
- energy store for seeds
why might a plant need to store glucose in an insoluble form
so that it does not interfere with water balance
how is cellulose used by humans
fabric, wood, paper
how is glucose used by humans
fermentation, biofuels
how are fats/oils used by humans
lubricants
how are amino acids used by humans
in food (chickpeas, beans, lentils etc)
Why would storing a lot of glucose be a problem for a plant?
- glucose is soluble in water
- if it were stored in plant cells, it would affect the way water moves in and out of the cells by osmosis
- lots of glucose stored in plant cells could affect the water balance of the plant
explain why some of the glucose made by photosynthesis is converted to starch
- Glucose is soluble and would affect movement of water into and out of plant cells by osmosis
- Starch is insoluble and does not disturb plant’s water balance.
is starch or glucose the main energy store of the plant
starch
how is starch used by a plant
- main energy store
- provides an energy store when it is dark/light levels are low
Where is starch found
- in cells all over a plant
- in special storage areas of a plant: tubers and bulbs are full of stored starch to help plants survive winter
How do humans use the starch stores
Humans take advantage of starch storage for vegetables such as potatoes and onions
How are proteins used in a plant
In many ways including enzymes
Example of soil that is low in minerals
Bogs are wet and their peaty soil has very few nutrients. This makes it a very difficult place to live
Which plants are adapted to live in nitrate-poor soil
Pitcher plants, Venus flytraps, sundews
How are plants adapted to live in nitrate-poor soil
- obtain most of their nutrients from animals eg insects
- plants produce enzymes to digest the insects they trap
- then use nitrates and other minerals from the digested insects in place of nutrients they can’t get from bog soil in which they grow
- after an insect has been digested, the trap reopens, ready to try again
What do seeds do
Provide food for new plant to respire as it germinates
Do algal cells have oil in them
- yes, some are very rich in oil
- they are being considered as a source of biofuel in the future
