Michaela Whittaker Mr.
Roberts
C Block Science 12/15/23
ATP, Photosynthesis, and Cell Respiration
Things to Remember:
★ The difference between Prokaryotes, Plant Cells, and Animal cells:
○ Prokaryotes don’t have a nucleus; their DNA floats freely in the cytoplasm
○ Plant cells have a cell wall and cytoplasm, while animal cells do not
○ Animal cells have lysosomes whereas plant cells do not
★ The six main molecules of life:
○ Carbon
○ Hydrogen
○ Oxygen
○ Nitrogen
○ Phosphorus
○ Sulfur
★ The eight characteristics of living things:
○ Reproduction
○ Heredity
○ Cellular Organization
○ Growth and Development
○ Response to Stimuli
○ Adaptation through Evolution
○ Homeostasis
○ Metabolism*
★ Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane. It is
different between plant and animal cells because of the plant’s more rigid cell wall. When
there is a hypotonic solution or a hypertonic solution, a plant cell will not shrivel up or
burst, while an animal cell will.
★ Isotonic, Hypotonic, and Hypertonic solutions
○ Isotonic is when the fluid outside of the cell and the fluid inside of the cell have
an equal concentration of solute
○ Hypotonic is when the concentration of solute in a cell is greater than the
concentration of solute outside the cell
○ Hypertonic is when the concentration of solute in a cell is less than the
concentration of solute outside the cell
Michaela Whittaker Mr. Roberts
C Block Science 12/15/23
ATP Understandings
★ ATP is made out of three things:
○ A nitrogenous base
○ A ribose sugar
○ Three bonded phosphate groups
★ ATP is used to store and transport energy within cells.
★ ATP is like a rechargeable battery because it’s able to be used again and again. When
energy is released, a phosphate group is broken off, forming ADP, and when a phosphate
group is added back on, energy is stored and it becomes ATP again.
Photosynthesis Understandings
★ Heterotrophs Vs. Autotrophs:
○ Heterotrophs are organisms that require outside sources of food in order to live.
○ Autotrophs are organisms that make their own food.
■ Autotrophs perform photosynthesis.
★ Fungi do not perform photosynthesis because they are heterotrophs. Instead, they release
enzymes that allow them to break down organic matter and then absorb it.
★ The equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy —> C6H12O6 + 6O2
★ Autotrophs take in carbon dioxide and water as the products of photosynthesis as well as
receiving light energy through the use of chloroplasts to allow for photosynthesis to
occur.
★ The products of photosynthesis are:
○ Glucose
○ Oxygen
★ Light Reaction vs. Dark Reaction
○ Light dependent reactions occur in the thylakoid of a chloroplast in the presence
of sunlight. The sunlight is converted into chemical energy which produces ATP,
NADPH (by exciting two electrons), and Oxygen.
○ The light independent reactions (Calvin Cycle) occur in the storms of a
chloroplast. It uses ATP and NADPH as well as carbon dioxide to produce
Glucose. A phosphate group breaks off and releases energy, changing the ATP
into ADP, and the two electrons break off of the NADPH, transforming it into
NADP.
Michaela Whittaker Mr. Roberts
C Block Science 12/15/23
Cellular Respiration Understandings
★ The equation for cellular respiration is: C6H12O6 + 6O2 —> 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP
★ The difference between Aerobic and Anaerobic respiration:
○ Aerobic respiration requires oxygen.
○ Anaerobic respiration (fermentation) does not require oxygen.
■ The two types of anaerobic respiration are lactic acid and alcohol fermentation
★ Lactic Acid vs. Alcohol Fermentation:
○ Lactic Acid produces lactate and does not use carbon dioxide.
○ Alcohol Fermentation produces ethyl alcohol and uses carbon dioxide within its reaction.
★ Glycolysis vs. Krebs Cycle. vs. Electron Transport Chain
○ Glycolysis breaks down glucose into two pyruvate molecules, 4 ATP, and NADPH.
○ The Krebs Cycle takes the two pyruvate molecules, oxidizes them, and turns them into
water, 2 ATP, and carbon dioxide.
○ The electron transport chain creates an electromagnetic gradient which allows for 30-32
ATP to be created
Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Understandings
★ Similarities:
○ Occur in cell organelles
○ Involve the exchange of gasses
○ Use ATP
★ Differences:
○ Opposite reactants/products
○ Cellular respiration occurs in all cells whereas photosynthesis only occurs in plant
cells
★ Heterotrophs do not perform photosynthesis because they do not make their own food,
they need to find and consume if.
★ Both heterotrophs and autotrophs perform cellular respiration. All cells do in order to
maintain metabolism.