Respiration Process and Types

Respiration

• Definition: The process of generating energy from the breakdown of glucose and other organic molecules.
• Types:
  • Aerobic Respiration: Occurs in the presence of oxygen, produces a net gain of 36-38 ATP molecules.
  • Anaerobic Respiration: Occurs in the absence of oxygen, produces a net gain of 2 ATP molecules.
• Steps:
  1. Glycolysis: Breakdown of glucose into pyruvate.
  2. Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle): Breakdown of pyruvate into acetyl-CoA.
  3. Electron Transport Chain: Generation of ATP from the energy released.

Cell Division

• Definition: The process by which a cell divides into two daughter cells.
• Types:
  • Mitosis: Occurs in somatic cells, results in two identical daughter cells.
  • Meiosis: Occurs in reproductive cells, results in four non-identical daughter cells.
• Phases:
  1. Interphase: Cell growth and replication of DNA.
  2. Prophase: Condensation of chromosomes and formation of the spindle fibers.
  3. Metaphase: Alignment of chromosomes at the center of the cell.
  4. Anaphase: Separation of sister chromatids.
  5. Telophase: Uncoiling of chromosomes and formation of nuclear membrane.
  6. Cytokinesis: Division of cytoplasm and formation of two daughter cells.

Nutrient Cycle

• Definition: The process by which nutrients are recycled and reused in an ecosystem.
• Components:
  • Carbon Cycle: Involves the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen between organisms and the atmosphere.
  • Nitrogen Cycle: Involves the conversion of nitrogen between its various forms (e.g., ammonia, nitrate, nitrite).
  • Water Cycle: Involves the circulation of water between the atmosphere, land, and sea.
• Processes:
  • Decomposition: Breakdown of organic matter into nutrients.
  • Nitrogen Fixation: Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form.
  • Denitrification: Conversion of nitrate into atmospheric nitrogen.

Photosynthesis

• Definition: The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy.
• Equation: 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6 O2
• Light-Dependent Reactions:
  1. Light absorption by pigments (e.g., chlorophyll).
  2. Electron transfer and formation of ATP and NADPH.
• Light-Independent Reactions (Calvin Cycle):
  1. Carbon fixation (RuBisCO enzyme).
  2. Reduction of CO2 into glucose using ATP and NADPH.

Homeostasis

• Definition: The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment.
• Mechanisms:
  • Negative Feedback Loops: Counteract changes to maintain homeostasis.
  • Positive Feedback Loops: Amplify changes to achieve a specific outcome.
• Examples:
  • Thermoregulation: Maintenance of body temperature.
  • Blood Sugar Regulation: Maintenance of blood glucose levels.
  • Osmoregulation: Maintenance of water balance and ion concentrations.

Respiration

• Respiration generates energy from glucose and organic molecules breakdown.
• Aerobic respiration occurs with oxygen, producing 36-38 ATP molecules.
• Anaerobic respiration occurs without oxygen, producing 2 ATP molecules.
• Glycolysis breaks down glucose into pyruvate.
• Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle) breaks down pyruvate into acetyl-CoA.
• Electron Transport Chain generates ATP from energy released.

Cell Division

• Cell division is the process of a cell dividing into two daughter cells.
• Mitosis occurs in somatic cells, resulting in two identical daughter cells.
• Meiosis occurs in reproductive cells, resulting in four non-identical daughter cells.
• Interphase involves cell growth and DNA replication.
• Prophase involves chromosome condensation and spindle fiber formation.
• Metaphase involves chromosome alignment at the cell center.
• Anaphase involves sister chromatid separation.
• Telophase involves chromosome uncoiling and nuclear membrane formation.
• Cytokinesis involves cytoplasm division and daughter cell formation.

Nutrient Cycle

• Nutrient cycle recycles and reuses nutrients in an ecosystem.
• Carbon Cycle involves carbon dioxide and oxygen exchange between organisms and atmosphere.
• Nitrogen Cycle involves nitrogen conversion between its various forms (e.g., ammonia, nitrate, nitrite).
• Water Cycle involves water circulation between atmosphere, land, and sea.
• Decomposition breaks down organic matter into nutrients.
• Nitrogen Fixation converts atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form.
• Denitrification converts nitrate into atmospheric nitrogen.

Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy in plants, algae, and some bacteria.
• The photosynthesis equation is: 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6 O2.
• Light-dependent reactions involve light absorption, electron transfer, and ATP and NADPH formation.
• Light-independent reactions (Calvin Cycle) involve carbon fixation, CO2 reduction into glucose using ATP and NADPH.

Homeostasis

• Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.
• Negative feedback loops counteract changes to maintain homeostasis.
• Positive feedback loops amplify changes to achieve a specific outcome.
• Thermoregulation maintains body temperature.
• Blood Sugar Regulation maintains blood glucose levels.
• Osmoregulation maintains water balance and ion concentrations.

Quiz about respiration, including aerobic and anaerobic types, and the steps involved in generating energy from glucose breakdown.