7.25: Putting It Together- Metabolic Pathways

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Whether the organism is a bacterium, plant, or animal, all living things access energy by breaking down carbohydrate molecules. But if plants make carbohydrate molecules, why would they need to break them down, especially when it has been shown that the gas organisms release as a “waste product” (CO₂) acts as a substrate for the formation of more food in photosynthesis? Remember, living things need energy to perform life functions. In addition, an organism can either make its own food or eat another organism—either way, the food still needs to be converted to a form cells can actually use. Finally, in that process of conversion, called cellular respiration, organisms release needed energy and produce “waste” in the form of CO₂ gas.

Biofuels

Obviously its important for providing energy for living organisms to power themselves. But is that the only power that photosynthesis provides? What about biofuels? Watch this 14 minute video for an amazing discussion of a proposed biofuel source that doesn’t use arable land, doesn’t take away food crops, and utilizes wastewater from cities.

Thumbnail for the embedded element "Jonathan Trent: Energy from floating algae pods"

A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: pb.libretexts.org/bionm1/?p=262

Contributors and Attributions

Authored by: Shelli Carter and Lumen Learning. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution

Biology. Provided by: OpenStax CNX. Located at: http://cnx.org/contents/185cbf87-c72e-48f5-b51e-f14f21b5eabd@10.8. License: CC BY: Attribution. License Terms: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/185cbf87-c72...f21b5eabd@10.8