Weekly Blog 10/2/16: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Photosynthesis.gif/553px-Photosynthesis.gif

Summary

Both cellular respiration and photosynthesis include these basic reactants and products: Oxygen (02), Glucose (C6H12O6), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Water (H2O). In photosynthesis, the reactants are carbon dioxide and water. Once sunlight is added, the two reactants re-arrange and transform into glucose and oxygen. Since oxygen is just a by-product, it is released into the air. Glucose, however, is turned into energy through cellular respiration. In cellular respiration, oxygen and glucose transforms back into carbon dioxide and water. Energy is also created. First, the oxygen goes into the mitochondria while the glucose stays outside in the cytoplasm. In the cytoplasm, the glucose splits into two pyruvic acid molecules which then creates a bit of energy. Next, the two pyruvic acid molecules move into the mitochondria and react to the oxygen producing carbon dioxide, water, and lots of energy.

SP6: Constructing explanations and designing solutions

I constructed explanations and designed solutions when I completed two Gizmos Labs on photosynthesis and the cell energy cycle. To construct explanations and design solutions to the packet, I had to think about the information I found by experimenting in the labs. By evaluating that information, I was able to come up with and test several of my hypothesis on what was going to happen next in the lab and why. For example, a few of the questions asked me to form a hypothesis on what  think are the reactants and products of photosynthesis. Since I know what the reactants and products of cellular respiration are as well as how both processes use the same basic ones, I should be able to from a hypothesis.

XCC: Systems and System Models

The system I am identifying is the cell energy cycle. In this system, there are 2 parts: photosynthesis and cellular respiration. In class, we studied about how photosynthesis and cellular respiration work together. The reactants of photosynthesis are produced by cellular respiration while the reactants of cellular respiration are produced by photosynthesis. Both of the two processes depend on each other to create enough of their reactants so the process and cycle can continue on. In addition to this, both of the two parts require the same basic molecules. These molecules are carbon dioxide, water, oxygen, and glucose.