Unit 2B: Metabolism

Part I:
Photosynthesis
 Overarching Themes:
1. How is light energy ABSORBED from Plants?
2. How do plants TRANSFORM light energy?
3. What structures help plants OBTAIN light
energy?
 Leaf Structures
Leaves have complicated structures
with important features for plant
function and photosynthesis. We are
going to focus on the stomata and
the waxy cuticle.
Stomata: small holes in leaves and
other plant structures that allows for
gas exchange.
Cuticle: a waxy covering on leaves
that allows them to retain water.
 The Chloroplast
● Photosynthesis takes place in
the chloroplasts.
● Chloroplasts contain
pigments that allow
photosynthesis to take place.
● These pigments absorb light
energy to convert to chemical
energy.
● The main pigment used is
called chlorophyll.
 What is Photosynthesis
The process of converting LIGHT energy into
CHEMICAL energy.
The equation for this chemical reaction is:
H2O + CO2 → C6H12O6 + O2

Label which are the reactants and products.

 Autotrophs vs. Heterotrophs
An organism that makes its own food is called an
autotroph.

An organism that has to eat food is called a

heterotroph.
 Colors of Light

Which color of light is used

in photosynthesis? Watch
this video and note which
are absorbed, reflected,
and transmitted.
 Chlorophyll Absorption Rates
There are several pigments in plants,
but we are specifically going to look
at chlorophyll a and b.

Which colors of light are most

absorbed by chlorophyll a? What
about chlorophyll b?
Chlorophyll a: violet and orange
Chlorophyll b: blue and yellow
 What factors affect the rate of photosynthesis?
1. The amount of light (intensity, color, length of
exposure)
2. Amount of water
3. Amount of CO2
4. Temperature
Part II: Cellular
Respiration
 First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only
transformed from one form to another.
 What is the original source of energy on
earth?
Remember → Autotrophs make their own food from WHAT?
Heterotrophs eat plants and organisms that eat
plants for energy
 What is this source?
The sun!!
Some organisms live
deep on the ocean floor
where sunlight does not
reach. They perform
chemosynthesis
 Cell Energy
The macromolecules
carbohydrates and lipids
provide our bodies with
energy.
The energy is stored in their
bonds.
What molecule do our cells
use for energy?
 ATP → Cell Energy
Adenosine Triphosphate → ATP → 3P
(Phosphates)
**Three bonds storing energy
Adenosine Diphosphate → ADP → 2P
The loss of a phosphate group from ATP
provides the cell energy.
 Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is the conversion of chemical
energy (food) to usable chemical energy (ATP)
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP

What do you notice about this equation?

 Location of Cellular Respiration
Most of cellular
respiration happens in the
mitochondria.
Certain parts of cellular
respiration also occurs in
the cytoplasm of the cell.
 Which organisms?
Pretty much all living things go
through cellular respiration.
Would prokaryotes and eukaryotes
be able to do this the same way?
Why or why not?

Plants, animals, protists, and

**Mitochondria!! fungi use mitochondria to
perform cellular respiration
 Two Major Types
Aerobic: production of ATP in the
presence of oxygen

Anaerobic: production of ATP in the

absence of oxygen
**also known as fermentation
Bread rising
 Main Steps
Cellular respiration occurs in these major steps:
1. Glycolysis
2. Aerobic Process
OR
3. Fermentation Process (Anaerobic)
 Step 1: Glycolysis
This step occurs in both types of
cellular respiration. It will *always*
occur.
This step takes place in the
cytoplasm and does not produce
much energy → only 2 ATP
Occurs in the cytoplasm
 Step 2: Aerobic Process → WITH O2
**Aerobic = with oxygen
This step happens in the Occurs in the
mitochondria
mitochondria and produces
the most energy → 36 ATP
per glucose molecule!!
1. Citric Acid Cycle
2. Electron Transport chain
Step 2: Anaerobic Processes → WITHOUT O2
Remember: This is known as fermentation. Occurs in the cytoplasm
There are two types of fermentation:

Lactic acid fermentation (occurs in bacteria and

animals)
● Can be used to make yogurt, sour cream, cheese,
etc.
● Our bodies use this process during heavy activity,
like sprinting.

Alcoholic Fermentation (produces ethanol and CO2)

● Used by yeast to make bread