Do plants undergo both photosynthesis and cellular respiration?
Photosynthesis is the conversion of light energy into chemical energy by living organisms. The raw materials are carbon dioxide and water, the energy source is sunlight, and the end-products include glucose and oxygen. Cellular respiration describes the metabolic reactions and processes that take place in a cell or across the cell membrane to obtain biochemical energy from fuel molecules and the release of the cells’ waste products. Energy is released by the oxidation of fuel molecules such as glucose, amino acids and fatty acids. The reactions involved in respiration are catabolic reactions in metabolism. The energy released in respiration is used to synthesize ATP molecules which can be used for many processes requiring energy, including biosynthesis, locomotion or transportation of molecules across cell membranes. In conclusion, plants can undergo both photosynthesis and cellular respiration together.
