Game

Autotrophs

Organisms that can produce their own food.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that consume other organisms for food.

Chlorophyll

A light-absorbing pigment found in chloroplasts of plants, algae, and blue-green bacteria.

Thylakoid

Little green discs that contain chlorophyll and are the site of light reactions in photosynthesis.

Stroma

The watery space surrounding the thylakoids in chloroplasts where the light-independent reaction occurs.

Calvin Cycle

A.k.a. light-independent reaction, uses ATP and NADPH to convert CO2 into sugar.

Photosystem

Group of light-absorbing pigments in the thylakoid membrane involved in the light reactions.

Photolysis

The process of splitting water using light during photosynthesis.

Glycolysis

The process of breaking down glucose into two molecules of pyruvate.

Krebs Cycle

A series of reactions in cellular respiration that generates electron carriers from acetyl CoA.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of proteins in the mitochondrial inner membrane that produce ATP using the energy from electrons.

Fermentation

Process of energy production in the absence of oxygen, resulting in alcohol or lactic acid.

Facultative Anaerobes

Organisms that can perform both aerobic and anaerobic respiration but prefer oxygen.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, the main energy currency of the cell.

NADPH

A reduced form of NADP+ that carries electrons and is used in the Calvin Cycle.

Chemiosmosis

The process of ATP production driven by the flow of protons across a membrane.

Carotenoids

Accessory pigments that help chlorophyll absorb light and reflect red, orange, or yellow.

Cyclic Electron Flow

A process in photosynthesis where electrons return to the original photosystem, generating extra ATP.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

Conversion of pyruvate into lactic acid, occurring in animals and some bacteria.

Alcohol Fermentation

Conversion of pyruvate into ethanol and CO2, occurring in yeast and some bacteria.

Free Energy

Energy released from reactions, used to perform work, such as making ATP.