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  • What is the ultimate source of energy for most forms of life on Earth?

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    Questioner:Charlotte White 2023-06-08 04:02:30
The most authoritative answer in 2024
  • Julian Turner——Works at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Lives in New York, NY, USA.

    Hello there, I'm a specialist in the field of biology and energy science. I'm here to provide you with a detailed explanation of the ultimate source of energy for most forms of life on Earth.

    The ultimate source of energy for most forms of life on Earth is the sun. The sun is a massive ball of gas that generates energy through nuclear fusion, a process where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the form of light and heat. This energy is essential for life as we know it, and it is harnessed by various organisms through the process of photosynthesis.

    Photosynthesis is a biochemical process that occurs in green plants, algae, and some bacteria. During this process, these organisms capture sunlight and convert it into chemical energy in the form of glucose, which is then used to fuel their growth and reproduction. The process can be divided into two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions, also known as the Calvin cycle.

    In the light-dependent reactions, sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll and other pigments within the chloroplasts of plant cells. The energy from the sunlight is used to generate ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate), which are energy-rich molecules. The ATP and NADPH produced are then used in the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide into glucose.

    The light-independent reactions, or the Calvin cycle, do not require light but do require the products (ATP and NADPH) of the light-dependent reactions. During this cycle, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is converted into glucose, which can be used by the plant for growth or stored for later use.

    The electron transport chain (ETC) is a part of cellular respiration, which is a separate process from photosynthesis. In the ETC, electrons are transferred through a series of proteins, and this transfer of electrons is coupled with the pumping of protons across a membrane, creating a proton gradient. This gradient drives the synthesis of ATP. The supply of electrons in the ETC comes from the breakdown of organic molecules, such as glucose, which is the end product of photosynthesis.

    It's important to note that while the sun is the ultimate source of energy for photosynthetic organisms, it is also the indirect source of energy for many other life forms on Earth. Photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, are the primary producers in most ecosystems. They convert solar energy into chemical energy, which can be consumed by other organisms, such as herbivores, which in turn can be consumed by carnivores and so on up the food chain.

    In summary, the sun is considered the ultimate source of energy for life on Earth because it provides the energy that drives photosynthesis. Photosynthetic organisms capture this solar energy and convert it into chemical energy, which is then used by other organisms in the ecosystem. This process creates a flow of energy through the biosphere, supporting a diverse array of life forms.

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    +149932024-05-18 14:05:04
  • Benjamin Evans——Works at the World Health Organization, Lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

    Q. In photosynthesis, the electron that is hit by sunlight and receives energy... Q. In the ETC, where does the supply of electrons come from? Q. The sun is considered the ultimate source of energy for life on Earth because-- photosynthetic organisms provide energy for other organisms on Earth.read more >>
    +119962023-06-17 04:02:30

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