CELL RESPIRATIONS Meaning and
Definition
-
Cell respiration refers to the biochemical process that occurs within cells to convert organic molecules, such as glucose, into usable energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It is a vital process for the survival and functioning of all living organisms.
Cell respiration is composed of three main stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and involves the breakdown of glucose into pyruvate molecules, resulting in the production of a small amount of ATP and electron carriers (such as NADH).
The second stage, the citric acid cycle, takes place in the mitochondria. Here, pyruvate is further broken down, releasing carbon dioxide and generating more ATP, NADH, and FADH2.
The final stage, oxidative phosphorylation, takes place in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. It involves the electron transport chain, in which the electron carriers (NADH and FADH2) release their electrons, producing a large amount of ATP through a process called chemiosmosis.
Overall, cell respiration is an intricate process that generates energy for cellular activities, allowing cells to carry out essential functions such as growth, movement, and reproduction. It is the counterpart of photosynthesis, as it utilizes the energy stored in glucose and other organic molecules to generate ATP, while photosynthesis uses sunlight to produce glucose.
Common Misspellings for CELL RESPIRATIONS
- xell respirations
- vell respirations
- fell respirations
- dell respirations
- cwll respirations
- csll respirations
- cdll respirations
- crll respirations
- c4ll respirations
- c3ll respirations
- cekl respirations
- cepl respirations
- ceol respirations
- celk respirations
- celp respirations
- celo respirations
- cell eespirations
- cell despirations
- cell fespirations
- cell tespirations
Etymology of CELL RESPIRATIONS
The word "cell respiration" is derived from two components: "cell" and "respiration".
1. Cell: The term "cell" originates from the Latin word "cellula", meaning "small room" or "small hollow". It was first used by the English scientist Robert Hooke in the 17th century to describe the microscopic structures he observed in cork under a microscope. The term "cell" gradually came to describe the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.
2. Respiration: The word "respiration" comes from the Latin word "respirare", which means "to breathe". In the context of biology, respiration refers to the series of chemical reactions that take place within cells to convert oxygen and nutrients into energy through the oxidation of organic molecules, such as glucose. This metabolic process is essential for the survival and functioning of all living organisms.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
