October 13th, 2022

Big Bang to Humankind

Cellular Respiration

Glucose → Energy

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP (energy, stored in chemical bonds)

Steps

  1. Glycolysis
  2. Krebs / Citric Acid Cycle
  3. Electron Transport Chain

Glycolysis (splitting sugar) yields 2 ATP and doesn’t require oxygen (so it’s good during extreme exercise).

Glycolysis + Krebs Cycle yields 36 ATP.

Photosynthesis

6H2O + 6CO2 + nutrients/sunlight → C6H12O6 + 6O2.

Steps:

  1. Light-dependent reactions (light + H2O → NADPH + ATP)
  2. The Calvin Cycle (CO2 → G3P; G3P eventually becomes glucose somehow)
    • Happens during the night, because daytime should be used for light-dependent reactions.