Fermentation and Photosynthesis Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards focused on key terms and definitions related to fermentation and photosynthesis.

Fermentation

A metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen to regenerate NAD+ from NADH.

Anaerobic respiration

A type of respiration that does not require oxygen.

Glycolysis

The process that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP in both aerobic and anaerobic environments.

NAD+

An electron carrier that is essential for glycolysis and is regenerated during fermentation.

Lactic acid fermentation

A type of fermentation that occurs in muscles and certain bacteria, producing lactate as a byproduct.

Alcohol fermentation

A metabolic process that converts sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide, typically done by yeast.

Facultative anaerobes

Organisms that can switch between aerobic respiration and fermentation based on the availability of oxygen.

Type 1 muscle fibers

Slow-twitch fibers that are used for endurance and aerobic ATP production.

Type 2 muscle fibers

Fast-twitch fibers that are used for sprinting and anaerobic ATP production.

Photosynthesis

The process by which light energy is converted into chemical energy in the form of sugars.

Chloroplast

An organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs.

Light reactions

The first stage of photosynthesis that converts light energy into chemical energy (ATP & NADPH).

Calvin cycle

The second stage of photosynthesis that uses ATP and NADPH to synthesize sugars.

Photoautotrophs

Organisms that use light energy to synthesize food.

Chemiautotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy from inorganic compounds to produce food.

Chlorophyll

A pigment found in plants that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.

Electron transport chain

A series of proteins in the thylakoid membrane that transfer electrons and help generate a proton gradient.

P680 and P700

Two types of chlorophyll in photosystems that absorb specific wavelengths of light (680 nm and 700 nm respectively).

Accessory pigments

Pigments that help in photosynthesis by broadening the spectrum of light that can be absorbed.

Light energy

Electromagnetic energy that is used to excite electrons in plant pigments during photosynthesis.

Redox reactions

Chemical reactions involving the transfer of electrons, important in cellular respiration and photosynthesis.

Oxidizing agent

A substance that accepts electrons and gets reduced in a chemical reaction.

Reducing agent

A substance that donates electrons and gets oxidized in a chemical reaction.

Photosystem II (PSII)

The first protein complex in the light reactions that absorbs light and starts the electron transport chain.

Photosystem I (PSI)

The second protein complex in the light reactions that also absorbs light and contributes to the rapid conversion of electrons.

Thylakoid membrane

The location in chloroplasts where the light reactions of photosynthesis occur.

Stroma

The fluid-filled space in chloroplasts where the Calvin cycle occurs.

Electromagnetic spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light.

Absorption spectrum

The range of wavelengths of light absorbed by a particular pigment.

Lactate

The product generated from lactic acid fermentation.

Ethanol

The alcohol produced by alcoholic fermentation in yeast.

Oxygen-evolving complex

A part of Photosystem II that splits water molecules to replace electrons lost by chlorophyll.

Mitochondria

The organelle responsible for aerobic respiration, producing ATP from glucose.

ATP synthase

An enzyme that synthesizes ATP from ADP using a proton gradient.

Chlorophyll a

The primary pigment in plants that plays a central role in photosynthesis.