Anaerobic Respiration and Photosynthesis

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to anaerobic respiration and photosynthesis, focusing on definitions and processes.

Anaerobic respiration

A form of respiration that does not require oxygen and leads to a net production of 2 ATPs.

Lactic acid pathway

A type of anaerobic respiration where pyruvic acid is converted into lactic acid.

Ethanol pathway

A type of anaerobic respiration in yeast where pyruvic acid is converted into ethanol.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food through processes like photosynthesis.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain their food from consuming other organisms.

Redox reactions

Chemical reactions involving the transfer of electrons, characterized by oxidation (loss of electrons) and reduction (gain of electrons).

OIL RIG

A mnemonic for remembering that oxidation is loss and reduction is gain.

Glycolysis

The first stage of both aerobic and anaerobic respiration, occurring in the cytoplasm, where glucose is broken down into pyruvate.

Citric acid cycle

A series of chemical reactions used by aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA.

Electron transport chain

A sequence of protein complexes that transfer electrons and produce the majority of ATP during aerobic respiration.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs.

Photosynthesis

The process by which autotrophs convert light energy, water, and carbon dioxide into sugar and oxygen.

Chemosynthesis

The process by which certain organisms create their own food using energy derived from chemical reactions, not sunlight.

Calvin cycle

The second stage of photosynthesis where ATP and NADPH are used to convert CO2 into glucose.

Thylakoid membrane

The membrane in chloroplasts where the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis occur.

Stroma

The fluid material within chloroplasts surrounding the thylakoids, where the Calvin cycle occurs.

Visible light

The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to humans, ranging from approximately 380 to 750 nanometers.

Accessory pigments

Pigments in plants, such as chlorophyll b and carotenoids, that assist in photosynthesis by capturing additional light wavelengths.

C3 pathway

A common photosynthesis pathway where CO2 is fixed directly in the Calvin cycle without storage.

C4 pathway

A photosynthesis pathway where CO2 is initially fixed into a four-carbon compound and stored for later use.

CAM pathway

A photosynthesis strategy where plants open their stomata at night to store CO2 for use during the day.