Crash Course Biology Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration - Overview

Crash Course Biology Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration - OverviewFor students that have been taking college biology classes for a while, they should know a few things about the different parts of the process that are involved in photosynthesis and cellular respiration. What follows is a quick overview of these parts so that students will know a little more about what these processes involve.The first step in this process is the introduction of functional groups, which are groups of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms that are connected by bonds. These functional groups are what make up the cells. These groups may not be in any particular order but usually form part of the structure of the cell.The next step involves the assembly of a protein enzyme called ATP. This is a form of the molecule adenosine triphosphate, which is often abbreviated as ATP. What happens is that ATP is broken down into its constituent parts, such as ADP and P I o 2, in the presence of an oxidizing agent. These two electrons then pass to another electron and energy is released.During the next step, enzymes are used to do this breaking down of ADP and P I o 2 to produce two molecules of energy, ATP and NADH. The enzyme that does this is called a thioesterase. There are many different types of enzymes that are involved in this process, but many are categorized as enzyme oxidoreductases, which are specialized enzymes that help to remove electrons from their partners in the process of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.The final step involved in this process is the use of a specific type of cytochrome oxidase to transfer one electron from one group to another. This step is referred to as pyruvate carboxylase.Other parts of the process involve more complex steps, such as the conversion of glucose to acetyl-CoA, the removal of oxygen from the blood, and the process of making some organic compounds, such as glucose, acetyl-CoA, and urea. Some students may find that they are unfamiliar with any of these steps and might need a bit of guidance on what is happening. There are actually many books available that provide information on the general components of these processes.As with any biology lectures, it is important to keep in mind that the professor will explain everything slowly and carefully so that you can understand all of the details and not miss out any details. The other reason to do this is that it can also be helpful to be able to give quick examples of the various parts of this process when speaking with your classmates.