What is Photosynthesis, Its Various Functions

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What is photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis literally means synthesis (or manufacturing) with light. It is the physiological process occuring in plants by which carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), in the presence of visible light and chlorophyll, are converted to organic or carbon-containing compounds which stores light energy in the form of chemical energy. It also occurs in other chlorophyll-containing organisms such as algae and cyanobacteria.

There are many reasons why it is important to understand what is photosynthesis. In fact this physico-chemical process (Govindjee 2000) is a necessary subject in plant physiology, specifically in relation to crop agriculture. To enhance crop productivity, the process of photosynthesis must be well understood. But in general, the ultimate reason is that almost all forms of life depend on photosynthesis for their supply of energy. The word “almost” is used because some bacteria obtain energy from H2S or H2 in complete darkness (Mathews and Van Holde 1990).

Further elaboration about photosynthesis, its functions, and other information:

What is Photosynthesis: Functions in Photoautotrophs
Photosynthesis is essential to plants and other photoautotrophic organisms because it provides the chemical energy needed to perform various life functions such as biosynthesis, translocation, and reproduction. With rare exception as in albino plants, all plants produce their own food through photosynthesis from which chemical energy is extracted. The carbon that is fixed in the process is also utilized as structural bases in the synthesis of organic compounds necessary for growth and development which include various forms of carbohydrate, proteins, fats and oils.

What is Photosynthesis: Importance to Heterotrophs
Photosynthesis is likewise essential to heterotrophic organisms as source of energy. They derive this energy from the food or feed that they consume in the same way that vehicles are powered by the energy from the combustion of fuel.

Heterotrophic organisms are those non-photosynthesizing organisms which are incapable of utilizing directly the energy from the sun, the ultimate source of energy. Without the natural apparatus to capture solar energy and convert it to chemical energy for their own use, heterotrophs must necessarily obtain it from those trapped in the organic compounds in photosynthetic organisms or other organisms that have harvested this energy.

These compounds consist of the carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oils. In relation to human nutrition, Wardlaw et al. (2004) provides the following average energy content of these compounds: carbohydrates- 4 kcal/g, protein- 4 kcal/g, fats and oils- 9 kcal/g. Likewise, humans and animals must obtain their supply of carbon for the synthesis of organic compounds, either directly or indirectly, from the primary photosynthesizing organisms.

What is Photosynthesis: Supply of Oxygen for Aerobic Organisms
In addition, photosynthesis is also vital to oxygen-requiring or aerobic organisms because the process generates oxygen in the photolysis of water during the light reactions. Oxygen is released to the atmosphere and is utilized by aerobic organisms including plants in the process of respiration. Humans and other animals breathe oxygen (O2) from the atmosphere, but plants normally absorb it through the roots.

What is Photosynthesis: Fossil Fuels for Human Use
Another aspect in relation to what is photosynthesis is in connection with man’s daily chores and his enjoyment. Although it is not apparent, photosynthesis has made modern life easier. Let there be light and indeed, artificial light using electrical energy has become readily available; industrial factories have made available processed food and other products for human use; we ride in cars and go to distant places in trains, ships and planes; electrical gadgets and devices give us comfort at home regardless of the season and time of the day.

Photosynthesis made these possible by producing the energy stored in petrochemicals and other fossil fuels. Coal, oil and natural gas are prehistoric plants and animals that have undergone decomposition over millions of years (US-DOE 2012). In addition, the oxygen that is evolved in the process of photosynthesis is used in the combustion or burning of fuel.

Peat, partialy decomposed moss plants like those which have accumulated for thousands of years in peat bogs in northern Europe, has an energy value equivalent to 3,300 calories per gram. This value exceeds that of wood but only half of coal. The volume of peat in the United States exceeds 60 billion tons which is equivalent to about 240 billion barrels of oil. In countries under the former Soviet Union, about 80 power plants that generate electricity have been maintained using as fuel more than 200 million tons of peat harvested annually (Moore et al. 2003).

What is Photosynthesis: Recent Advances
Researches are still continuing and researchers are close to developing the technology on human-made photosynthesis. Steinberg-Yfrach et al. (1998, cited by Govindjee 2000) succeeded in producing “lots of ATP” artificially with synthetic energy. Presently, there are ongoing researches that can revolutionize food and energy production. One consists of creating an “artificial leaf” that is capable of collecting solar energy and converting it to liquid fuel applying similar photosynthetic reactions (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council 2012). Certainly the outcomes of these investigations will broaden further the picture on what is photosynthesis.

REFERENCES

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. 2012. Human-made photosynthesis to revolutionize food and energy production. Retrieved Feb. 26, 2012 from href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120217145755.htm.

GOVINDJEE. 2000. Milestones in photosynthesis research. In: Yunus M, Pathre U, Mohanty P, editors. 2000. Probing Photosynthesis: Mechanisms, Regulation and Adaptation. London: Taylor & Francis. p. 9-39. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2012 from http://www.life.illinois.edu/govindjee/papers/milestones.html#intro.

MATHEWS CK, VAN HOLDE KE. 1990. Biochemistry. Redwood City, CA: The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc. 1129 p.

MOORE R, CLARK WD, VODOPICH DS. 2003. Botany. 2nd ed. Boston, Massachusetts: McGraw-Hill. 919 p.

[US-DOE] U. S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. 2012. Fossil energy: energy lessons and study guides for younger students. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2012 from http://www.fe.doe.gov/education/energylessons/index.html.

WARDLAW GM, HAMPL JS, DiSILVESTRO RA. 2004. Perspectives in Nutrition. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 752 p.

(Ben G. Bareja February 2012)

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