Biochemistry
Biochemistry
8th Edition
ISBN: 9781464126109
Author: Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr., Lubert Stryer
Publisher: W. H. Freeman
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Chapter 19, Problem 1P
Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason forhuman beings to not produce energy by photosynthesis, however, this process is critical to our survival needs to be explained.

Concept Introduction:

Photosynthesis is a process that harnesses the energy in sunlight to make sugar from water and carbon dioxide in the presence of a green pigment called chlorophyll.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Explanation of Solution

Symbiosis between animals or heterotrophic protist and algae are common in nature, the prominent examples include the zoochlorellae of Hydra viridis or dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) of corals and the many different species of algae found in ciliates. A more curious kind of symbiosis is found among the sacoglossanmolluscs (marine slugs) from the Plakobranchoidea. These animals establish a symbiosis with only a part of their algal partners and produce energy by photosynthesis.

Human beings do not produce energy by photosynthesis because human beings do not have a green pigment and it lies in considering the energy requirement of a large active multicellular animal such as a human being. Every day an adult human requires energy according to its own body weight in a molecule called ATP, which stores the chemical energy released from the oxidation of glucose.

To produce roughly 60kg of ATP, a typical adult human, therefore, requires around 700g of glucose per day. Given the maximum known rates of photosynthesis in higher plants and assuming that the surface area of an adult human skin is around 1.6 m2, a human with green skin could produce a highly disappointing 1% of the daily demand for glucose through photosynthesis. So to meet the energy demands, a photosynthesizing human would have to have a lot more skin.

Conclusion

Human beings do not produce energy by photosynthesis because human beings do not have a green pigment chlorophyll and havea higher energy requirement. But plants and other organisms produce energy by photosynthesis.

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Students have asked these similar questions
40 words or fewer. Explain why we would not survive without primary producers, in particular photosynthetic organisms. Be as complete and specific as possible within the word limit.
Life requires energy.  Describe the basic principles of bioenergetics in an animal cell.  How is the flow and transformation of energy different in a photosynthesizing cell?  Include the role of ATP and enzymes in your discussion.
Modified TRUE or FALSE. Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct. If the statement is false, write the incorrect underlined word/s and indicate the correct word/s to make the statement true. During photorespiration, Rubisco acts as carboxylase that catalyzes the reaction of RuBP and oxygen to form phosphoglycolate and PGA in the chloroplast.
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Photosynthesis & Respiration | Reactions | Chemistry | FuseSchool; Author: FuseSchool - Global Education;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XIyweZg6Sw;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY