Metabolism Intro
SLCC BIOL Videos・5 minutes read
Living organisms require energy for essential processes, with autotrophs like plants using photosynthesis to convert light into energy, while chemoheterotrophs rely on organic molecules for energy through cellular respiration, facilitated by mitochondria acquired via endosymbiosis. Organisms are classified based on how they acquire carbon and energy, with photoautotrophs producing organic molecules and oxygen through photosynthesis, shaping the Earth's atmosphere over time.
Insights
- All living organisms require energy for essential functions like protein synthesis and DNA replication.
- Autotrophs, such as plants and cyanobacteria, use photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy, while chemoheterotrophs rely on organic molecules for energy and carbon, with mitochondria being vital for cellular respiration.
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Recent questions
How do organisms acquire energy?
Organisms acquire energy through various processes like photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
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Summary
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Energy Acquisition and Utilization in Organisms
- All living organisms share the need to store and utilize energy for fundamental processes like protein synthesis and DNA replication.
- Organisms can be classified based on how they acquire energy and carbon, with autotrophs obtaining carbon from inorganic sources and using photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy.
- Photoautotrophs, including plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, perform photosynthesis to produce organic molecules and oxygen, with cyanobacteria being the first oxygen-producing organisms on Earth.
- Organisms that cannot photosynthesize, known as chemoheterotrophs, derive carbon and energy from organic molecules produced by autotrophs, utilizing cellular respiration to break down these molecules and produce ATP for cellular work. Mitochondria, acquired through endosymbiosis, play a crucial role in cellular respiration.
