Importance of Photosynthesis Essays - Biology, Photosynthesis

Importance of Photosynthesis All life on Earth depends directly or indirectly on the suns energy; however plants are the only ones capable of capturing and converting solar energy into chemical energy. This is called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is very important to survival on Earth, if it were to stop the oxygen in the atmosphere would start to deplete. There are steps for photosynthesis to take place such as capturing the energy form the sun, using the energy, and building carbohydrates. The sun is the source of energy that the plants use to perform photosynthesis. Green plants or "autotrophs" can provide their own food because they have an energy capturing substance called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is what gives the plants the green pigment of the stems and leaves and is able to absorb light. The next step is when plants use the energy to make ATP and an energy carrying compound called NADPH. ATP is made when protons flow through a protein channel as excited electrons from chlorophyll lose energy passing through carries in the thylakoid membrane, then the energy is used to pump protons across the membrane into the thylakoid membrane. As the protons exit the channel, the thylakoid adds phosphate group to the molecule making ATP. These electrons then accept more light and then attach to NADP forming NADPH.ATP and NADPH are used to power the next step of the photosynthesis process. Building carbohydrates is the final step in the photosynthesis and it is when carbo n atoms are captured from the carbon dioxide in the air. Which are used to make organic molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins needed for energy and growth. This process regenerates its starting molecule so that it basically is a series of steps that forms a cycle. Photosynthesis is important for all life on Earth, humans, plants, and animals. This is because the process of photosynthesis produces oxygen for us to breathe and survive, while plants need carbon dioxide. Respiration in animals, humans produces carbon dioxide and this is why plants and trees are so important to our planet. We need each other to survive and thrive. If the photosynthesis process were to abruptly stop all the oxygen in the atmosphere would deplete in a few thousand years. All life on earth depends on photosynthesis to some extent. Photosynthesis is needed for the survival and isn't a too complicated system, however is only capable through plants. We need it for food, energy and warmth. There may be only three steps but they are very important and much needed.