Question

*minimum 250 words

Imagine that you are enjoying a delicious dinner with friends and family of various ages (age 6 to age 81) (who are not scientists or science majors and are not familiar with the topic), and the topic of photosythesis is brought up. How would you explain the process of photoynthesis and its importance for our planet to those of all ages around the table? Feel free to give several different explanations to target various age groups......

Answer 1

Photosynthesis is the process through which green plants and other specific living organisms utilize light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide in to simple sugars. Through photosynthesis, green plants are able to manufacture their own food which is essential for their growth.

Most importantly, photosynthesis process releases oxygen as a by-product which is required by most organisms for respiratory.

Photosynthesis is the most important part of the lively hood of humans and animals.

Without photosynthesis we would not be able to receive energy. We should be more appreciate of plants, without them we would not survive.

All organisms depend ultimately upon green plants as a source of organic nutrients.. This process occurs whenever radiant energy is received by chlorophyll molecules. The chlorophyll never changes from its original form nor is combined when photosynthesis occurs. Photosynthesis is a reproductive system that occurs in plants. The main components required for photosynthesizing are sunlight, energy, water and mineral from soil, and carbon dioxide from the air. By a series of energy- transformations carbon dioxide and water are combined in the production of carbohydrates and oxygen.

Plants absorb energy from the sunlight whether on land or in the water. The energy is transferred to humans and some animals that eat plants. Some animals are not able to eat plants so they eat other animals who has energy stored up in them. Humans also receive a source of energy from animals that we eat. Many years after the raw materials and end products of photosynthesis were known, it was thought that carbon and oxygen separated during the process, in such a reaction, carbon would attach to water, and oxygen would be released.

Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast cells in the green plants. Chloroplasts contain green pigment referred to as chlorophyll which absorbs light energy from the sun. And water and CO2 are from atmosphere.

Photosynthesis takes place in green plants, algae, seaweeds and particular bacteria that contain green pigment. These living organisms serve as credible factories for sugar. These glucoses molecules are used as source of energy for the plant growth and reproduction.

Glucose is also converted into cellulose by plants, and then used as cell wall in plant cells. Plants stores the excess glucose in form of carbohydrates and starch in stems, leaves and roots.

Animals do not manufacture their own food and therefore, animals depend on plants photosynthesis to acquire glucose needed for their growth. Animals depend on starch and carbohydrates stored in plant roots, leaves and stems for their living. The oxygen used by animals during respiration is produced during photosynthesis.

The ancient photosynthesis products such as fossil fuels are used as a source of energy. The fossils such as coal, petroleum and natural gases involve the remains of ancient organisms which depended on photosynthesis many years ago. In fact, almost all life on this planet, indirectly or directly relies on photosynthesis as an energy, oxygen and food source, hence making photosynthesis among the most significant known biochemical processes.