Chapter 6 - How Cells Harvest Energy

Q: What is used in cells in order to harvest energy?
A: A cell uses sugar and air in order to convert it into a viable energy source for the cell.
Q: How are photosynthesis and cellular respiration different?
A: Photosynthesis uses light energy to convert into chemical energy whereas cellular respiration uses air and other reactants in order to create chemical energy.
Q: How many stages are there in cellular respiration?
A: There are three main stages in cellular respiration, glycolysis, citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.

Five Main Facts:
1) Glycolysis begins respiration by breaking glucose into two molecules of a three-carbon compound called pyruvate.
2) Cells create ATP in order to have energy for the cell to use.
3) When we breathe we are supplying all of our cells with oxygen in order to use for cellular respiration.
4) A concentration gradient is needed for cellular respiration to take place.
5) Fermentation allows for cells to produce ATP without oxygen.

This diagram shows the reactants, products and cycles that a cell goes through during cellular respiration.

Chapter six goes through how cells are able to produce energy to use for cellular function. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are two ways energy is used. ATP is what these processes create. ATP is the main source of energy for a cell. In order for this process to take place, there must be a concentration gradient of hydrogen otherwise ATP synthase will not be able to take place. 

Key Terms:

1) Cellular respiration: the aerobic harvesting of energy from sugar by muscle cells

2) Redox reaction: movement of electrons from one molecule to another is an oxidation-reduction reaction

3) Oxidation: loss of electrons from one substance

4) Reduction: addition of electrons to another substance
5) Electron transport chain: NADH delivering electrons to the rest of the staircase.
6) Glycolysis: occurs in the cytoplasmic fluid of the cell
7) Citric acid cycle: takes place within the mitochondria
8) Oxidative phosphorylation: involves the electron transport chain and a process known as chemiosmosis
9) ATP synthase: protein complexes built into the inner membrane that synthesize ATP
10) Intermediates: final product of glycolysis also known as a pyruvate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbJ0nbzt5Kw