In order to harvest chemical energy, cells must first absorb nutrients from their environment. Once inside the cell, these nutrients are used to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the molecule that stores and transfers energy within cells. ATP is used to power numerous cellular processes, such as cell growth, movement, and communication.
ATP is produced through a process called cellular respiration, which involves the breakdown of glucose (a simple sugar) in the presence of oxygen. Glucose is broken down into smaller molecules, and ATP is produced as a by-product. This process occurs in the mitochondria, the organelles responsible for energy production in cells.
Not all cells rely on oxygen to produce ATP, however. Some types of bacteria use a process called fermentation to produce ATP in the absence of oxygen. In fermentation, glucose is broken down into smaller molecules, but no ATP is produced. Instead, the energy released from the breakdown of glucose is used to produce other molecules, such as lactic acid.
Cells need a constant supply of ATP in order to maintain their functions. When ATP is used, it is converted back into ADP (adenosine diphosphate). In order to continue producing ATP, cells must replenish their supply of ADP. This can be done through the process of cellular respiration, which produces ATP as a by-product, or through the process of fermentation, which does not produce ATP but can still generate energy.
Other related questions:
Q: How do cells harvest energy?
A: Cells harvest energy from the food that we eat. The food we eat is broken down by the cells in our body and turned into energy that the cells can use to function.
Q: How is chemical energy harvested?
A: Chemical energy is harvested through the process of photosynthesis. This is where plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
Q: How do cells harvest energy notes?
A: Cells harvest energy by converting potential energy into kinetic energy. This can be done through a number of different mechanisms, such as cellular respiration or photosynthesis.
Bibliography
- Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy
- Chapter 6: How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy – Name
- An Introduction to Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
- Cellular respiration review (article) – Khan Academy
- What Happens If Cellular Respiration Stops? – Byju’s
- Right now, you are breathing at a steady rate of perhaps 12 to …
- How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy – Pearson