Photosynthesis Flashcards
What is photosynthesis?
Process where light from sun transformed into chain am energy and used to synthesis Large organic molecules from inorganic substances
Why is photosynthesis so important?
Transforms light energy to Chemical potential energy that is then available to consumers and decomposes, releases oxygen from water into atmosphere so aerobes depend on it for respiration
What is an autotroph?
Organism that uses light energy or chemical energy and inorganic molecules to synthesis complex organic molecules
What is a chemoautotroph?
Synthesise complex organic molecules using energy derived from exergonic chemical reactions -reactions that give out heat
Example of a chemoautotroph?
Nitrifying bacteria, obtain energy from oxidising ammonia to nitrate
What is a photo autotroph?
Organism that can photosynthesis, source of energy is sunlight, raw inorganic molecules are co2 and h2o,
What organisms are photoautotrophs?
Plants, some bacteria, some protocists, majority of producers for food chains
What are heterotrophs?
Organisms that ingest and digest complex organic molecules, releasing the chemical potential energy stored in them, cannot make their own food, but digest complex organic molecules into simpler soluble ones which can be used to synthesis complex molecules
Why do repairing organisms rely on photosynthesis?
Organisms can release chemical potential energy in complex organic minerals made in photosynthesis by respiration, aerobic respiration depends on oxygen, oxygen is released by photosynthesis, means oxygen is free in atmosphere-oxygen released from the water
Where does photosynthesis take place?
Organelles called chloroplasts
Marine Molluscs incorporate chloroplasts from algae into their cells, however this is not passes to next generation, what is advantage of doing this?
Chloroplasts synthesise, some organic products may be repaired by cells, or ad building blocks by cells, can use oxygen. Green colour can be used for camouflage
Describe structure if a chloroplast
Disc shaped, 2-10 um long Double membrane, envelope Intermembrane space Outer membrane permeable to ions Inner membrane less permeable, transport proteins embedded, folded into lamellae, these are stacked to make granum Between grabs are intergranal lamellae
What is the stroma?
Fluid filled matrix, reactions of light independent stage occur here, so contain necessary enzymes, as well as DNA, ribosomes and starch grains
What are grana?
Stacks of flattened membrane compartments called thylakoids, site of light absorption and ATP synthesis in light dependent stage of photosynthesis
How are chloroplasts adapted for their role?
Inner membrane controls entry and exit of substances between cytoplasm and stroma
Grana provide large SA for photosynthetic pigments, electron carriers and ATP synthase for light dependent reaction
Photosynthetic pigments arranged in photosystems, held in place by proteins
Stroma contains enzymes for light independent reactions
Grana surrounded by stroma for short distance for products of light dependent stage
Chloroplasts can synthesis enzymes needed for photosynthesis using DNA and ribosome
What is a photosynthetic pigment?
Molecules that absorb light energy. Each pigment absorbs a range of wavelengths in the visible region and has its own distinct peak of absorption. Other wavelengths are reflected-appear colour of the wavelengths they reflect. Arranged in photosystems on thylakoid membrane
What is chlorophyll?
A mixture of pigments, with similar structure, made from phytol (hydrocarbon chain) and porphyry group, which contains magnesium atom.
What are the two forms of chlorophyll?
B-P680 and b-P700, both are yellow green
Why is magnesium in porphyrin important?
Light hitting chlorophyll causes pair of electrons associated with magnesium to be excited