Ch. 5 Introduction - Concepts of Biology

Chapter Outline: Photosynthesis

  • 5.1 Overview of Photosynthesis

  • 5.2 The Light-Dependent Reactions of Photosynthesis

  • 5.3 The Calvin Cycle

Introduction to Biological Energy

  • The Machine Analogy: No matter how complex or advanced a machine is, such as the latest cellular phone, it cannot function without energy.

  • Biological Complexity: Living things are similar to machines in that they possess many complex components.

  • Necessity of Energy: Like machines, living organisms cannot do anything without energy. This fundamental requirement is the reason humans and all other organisms must ‐eat‐ in some form or another.

  • The Global Source: While it is common knowledge that organisms need to eat, it is less commonly realized that every bite of every meal ingested depends on the process of photosynthesis.

Figure 5.1: The Mockingbird and Photosynthesis

  • Illustration of Dependency: Figure 5.1 features a mockingbird, illustrating that its diet, like that of almost all organisms, is ultimately dependent on photosynthesis.

  • Credit: The image is a modification of work by Dave Menke, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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