Term | Definition |
Autotrophs | An organism that is able to make its own food |
Heterotroph | An organism that depends on other organisms for food |
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) | A compound that serves as a temporary energy storage molecules in all cells |
ADP (adenosine diphosphate) | The molecule that is produced when ATP is split to yield energy |
Photosynthesis | The process whereby simple sugars are formed from carbon dioxide and water is the presences of light and chlorophyll |
Chlorophyll | The green pigment of plants cells that is necessary for photosynthesis |
Pigment | A light absorbing molecules that functions in photosynthesis |
Light dependent phase | The first phase of photosynthesis; requires light energy to Energize electrons in pigment |
Electron transport chain | A series of aerobic reactions that release energy as they combine hydrogen and oxygen to form water |
Calvin cycle | The most common pathway of photosynthesis; also called the carbon fixation cycle or light independent phase |
Stroma | Material within the chloroplast that surrounds the Grana of thylakoids |
ATP synthase | An enzyme necessary for the conversion of phosphate and ADP into ATP |
Chemosynthesis | A process whereby certain organisms cellular energy from the breakdown of inorganic chemicals |
cellular respiration | The breakdown of food (glucose) to release energy including both aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration |
Aerobic | Requiring oxygen |
Anaerobic | Not requiring energy |
Glycolysis | The breakdown of glucose to Pyruvic acid during cellular respiration |
Krebs cycle | The stage of aerobic cellular respiration in which pyruvic acid reacts with an enzyme that removes a carbon from the pyruvic acid to produce acetyl CoA, CO2, hydrogen ions, ATP and electrons; also called the citric acid cycle |
Acetyl CoA | A two carbon substance found in many cellular metabolism |
Fermentation | The anaerobic breakdown of carbohydrates To pyruvic acid, and then to alcohol and carbon dioxide to lactic acid |