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Processes that Convert Energy

Staying alive depends on the ability to control the transfer of energy from one molecule or process to another.

There are processes that are used to create these high energy molecules.

  • ATP is the ultimate energy molecule.  Whether you need to contract a large muscle or pump ions across a membrane, ATP directly provides the energy to do so.

  • Respiration is the process that energizes ATP by releasing energy stored in food

  • Photosynthesis and Chemosynthesis can harness energy from the environment to make food

Topics

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Phosphorylation

Phosphorylation is the process of adding a phosphate to a molecule - usually ADP to make ATP

  • Substrate Level Phosphorylation

  • Oxidative Phosphorylation

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Respiration

Respiration is the process of releasing energy from organic molecules to make ATP

  • Aerobic Respiration

    • uses oxygen and makes more ATP

  • Anaerobic Respiration

    • does NOT use oxygen and makes less ATP

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Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process of capturing energy from the sun and storing it in sugar(glucose)

  • Occurs in Chloroplast

  • Chlorophyll - pigment molecule that traps light energy

  • Reactants - Sunlight, Water, Carbon Dioxide

  • Products - Glucose, Oxygen

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Chemosynthesis

Chemosynthesis is a process that captures energy from heat and chemicals and stores it in sugar (glucose)

  • Usually occurs in areas without light such as deep sea vents

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