Photosynthesis vs Respiration

In many respects photosynthesis and cellular respiration are complementary reactions in the environment.

Cell respiration products (carbon dioxide and water) as input to photosynthesis

Consumers (ie heterotrophs) only receive cell respiration but ingest or absorb photosynthate products

In photosynthesis, ATP is generated by light energy (photophosphorylation) and is used to make organic molecules.

In photosynthesis, electrons are provided by chlorophyll and protons accumulate in thylakoid cavities

In cellular respiration, electrons are supplied by hydrogen carriers and protons accumulate in the membrane gap.

The cycle of photosynthesis and respiration keeps the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis produces oxygen to supplement the oxygen consumed by living things during breathing. Carbon dioxide generated during breathing is one of the reactants necessary for plant photosynthesis.

Humans, animals and plants rely on cycle of cell respiration and photosynthesis to survive. Oxygen produced by plants during photosynthesis is the process by which humans and animals suck blood and transport them to the cell for breathing. Carbon dioxide produced during respiration is released from the body and absorbed by plants, which helps to supply the energy needed for growth and development. This is an endless cycle to sustain life on Earth. Plants and other photosynthetic organisms use photosynthesis to produce energy, but the cell respiration process breaks down the energy used. Despite the differences between the two processes, there are some similarities. For example, both processes synthesize and use energy currency ATP.

Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are interdependent. Energy conversion that occurs in photosynthesis is used to promote reaction in cell respiration. Let's see an example. Grass is a plant that uses photosynthesis to make its own food. When it converts light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, glucose is used to form a new plant structure and the lawn grows. Outdoor cattle eat grass and break down glucose during cell respiration. The chemical energy contained in glucose is converted to ATP and used to power cows to grow alive.

Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose called chloroplast. Glucose produced by photosynthesis is then used during cell respiration. In cellular respiration, the energy stored in the binding of glucose molecules is resolved and converted to another type of energy ATP. Both photosynthesis and cellular respiration start with one energy and convert it to another energy, but the type involved is different. Photosynthesis uses light energy to create complex molecules in anabolic reactions, cell respiration breaks down these molecules and releases energy in catabolic reactions.