Cell Energy Vocab

Autotroph

Organisms that can make their own food

Chlorophyll

Pigment found inside the chloroplast that helps absorb energy from sunlight

Chloroplast

Organelle found in plants that captures the energy of sunlight for photosynthesis (makes glucose)

Denature

3D shape is lost so enzyme cannot function correctly anymore

Enzyme

A protein that functions as a catalyst to speed up a chemical reaction by lowering activation energy

Heterotroph

Organisms that cannot make their own food and must obtain energy by eating other organisms

Photosynthesis

Process by which a cell captures energy in sunlight and uses it to make food (glucose)

ADP (adenosine di-phosphate)

Dead battery that needs to be charged

ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate)

Recharged battery with stored energy

Cellular Respiration

Process that breaks down the small food molecules after digestion and provide the energy in the form of ATP for the cell and the organism

Digestion

Process by which our bodies break what we eat into small, nutrient rich molecules along with waste products

Glucose

Sugar made by plants, major energy source

Mitochondria

Powerhouse of the cell; site of cellular respiration (makes ATP)

Aerobic Respiration

Type of respiration that uses oxygen; much more efficient (creates more energy)

Alcoholic Fermentation

Type of anaerobic respiration that is used to make bread and alcoholic beverages; occurs in yeast and bacteria

Anaerobic Respiration

Type of respiration that does not use oxygen; less efficient (creates less energy); aka: fermentation

Lactic Acid Fermentation

Type of anaerobic respiration that occurs during exercise (muscle burn)