EBK BIOCHEMISTRY
EBK BIOCHEMISTRY
8th Edition
ISBN: 9781319116361
Author: BERG
Publisher: W.H. Freeman & Company
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Question
Book Icon
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
Check Mark

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.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
Question:- List the different molecules, an electrons is part of, as it moves from NADPH through the light-independent phase of photosynthesis and is synthesized into a substrate that can feed it into a NADH molecule as part of aerobic cellular respiration. Provide 2 different options for NADH production.
The compound Carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone (FCCP) acts as an uncoupler of electrochemical gradients (in both mitochondria and chloroplasts) by shuttling protons across membranes. Predict the effect of a high dose of FCCP on the synthesis of ATP and NADPH in photosynthesis. Rationalize your answersAnswer separately with prediction and reason please thank you so much
"Energy Transformation" ATP-ADP CYCLE Construct a final draft sketch on the photoexcitation of Chlorophyll.With labels and explanation.
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biochemistry
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biochemistry and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
  • Text book image
    Biochemistry
    Biochemistry
    ISBN:9781305577206
    Author:Reginald H. Garrett, Charles M. Grisham
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Biochemistry
Biochemistry
ISBN:9781305577206
Author:Reginald H. Garrett, Charles M. Grisham
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Photosynthesis & Respiration | Reactions | Chemistry | FuseSchool; Author: FuseSchool - Global Education;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XIyweZg6Sw;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY