Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for key terms related to photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Biochemical Pathway

A sequence of linked biological reactions that are carried out with an enzyme catalyzing each reaction; also known as a metabolic pathway.

Metabolism

The sum of chemical reactions inside a cell; energy metabolism is the process of generating energy from nutrients.

Catabolism

The break down of complex molecules to form simpler ones; releases energy (exergonic), example: Cellular Respiration.

Anabolism

The building up of simple molecules into more complex ones; requires energy (endergonic), example: Photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

A carbon dioxide (CO2)-requiring process that combines water (H2O) with light energy to generate glucose and oxygen; occurs in the chloroplast.

Light Dependent Reaction

Also known as the Light/Hill reaction; occurs on the thylakoid; produces oxygen, ATP, and NADPH using light and water performed with the presence of sunlight.

Light Independent Reaction

Also known as Calvin-Benson Fixation/ Dark reaction; occurs in the stroma; uses ATP and NADPH from light reaction uses CO2 to produce carbohydrates (glucose); can be carried out even without light.

Cellular Respiration

Process where it requires oxygen wherein glucose is broken down to produce ATP with carbon dioxide as a by-product; occurs mainly in the mitochondria.

Glycolysis

The breakdown of glucose by enzymes, releasing energy and pyruvic acid.

Pyruvate Oxidation

Process by which pyruvate is converted to acetyl CoA, producing CO2 and NADH.

Citric Acid Cycle

A series of chemical reactions that extract energy from acetyl CoA and produce ATP, NADH, FADH2, and CO2.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The process in which ATP is formed as a result of the transfer of electrons from NADH or FADH 2 to O 2 by a series of electron carriers.

Carbon Fixation

The initial incorporation of carbon from CO2 into an organic compound by an autotrophic organism (plant, alga, or bacterium).